LIBRARY 

OF  THK 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


OIKT  OK 


Jfo 


C/iB.5 


mm, 


*/ 


,tL*j)-<AuA^~f^CMrvLjJ\ 


FOR  LIFE  AND  LOVE 


A  STORT  OF  THE  RIO   GRANDE 


"And  Leavenworth  lay  dying,  with  his  head  upon  my  knee — 

Only  a  tress  of  woman's. hair!     A  rose,  dead  many  a  day! 

It  was  upon  the  sandy  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande,  where  we  lay!  " 

"OLD  BALLAD.' 


BY 

RICHARD    HENRY    SAVAGE 

AUTHOR  OF 

;  MY    OFFICIAL    WIFE,"    "  THE   LITTLE   LADY   OF   LAGUNITAS, 

"PRINCE  SCHAMYL'S   WOOING,"  "THE   MASKED  VENUS," 

"  DELILAH  OF  HARLEM,"  "  THE  PASSING  SHOW." 


FRANK    TENNYSON   NEELY 
CHICAGO  AND  NEW  YORK 


COPYRIGHTED  BY 

RICHARD  HENRY  SAVAGE 

September  18, 1893 

(All  rights  reserved.) 


RICHARD  HENRY  SAVAGE. 


L^EW  of   the  recent  American  novelists  have  attained  the  success  of 

I  *       RICHARD  HENRY  SAVAGE,  whose  dashing  and  romantic  stories  are 

to-day   published   in   Germany  and    England  as  well   as  America. 

His  experiences  are  as  varied  as  the  scenes  of  his  works,  and,  save  India  and 

Australia,  he  is  familiar  with  the  entire  route  of  the  wayfarer  in  life.  Student, 

traveller,    soldier,    author,   and   scientist,    his   forty-seven  years   have   been 

marked  by  mental  toil,  physical  hardship,  and  stirring  adventure. 

•  The  author  of  "My  Official  Wife"  was  born  in  Utica,  New  York,  and 
as  a  lad,  arriving  in  California  in  1852,  attended  the  first  public  school  in 
San  Francisco,  being  the  youngest  scholar  in  the  first  class  of  the  H'.^h 
School.  Taken  to  the  wilds  of  Nevada  County,  where  his  father  was  a 
leading  merchant,  the  youth  saw,  in  its  prime,  the  wild  life  of  Bret  Harte's 
heroes.  Later,  in  San  Francisco,  he  witnessed  the  Vigilance  Committee's 
sway  of  1856,  and  the  final  crystallization  of  California  society. 

His  law  studies  with  Edward  Stanley  and  Sidney  V.  Smith,  of  San 
Francisco,  were  interrupted  by  the  war.  A  commission  in  the  California 
Volunteers  was  reluctantly  declined  by  reason  of  his  minority,  and  in  1864 
he  was  entered  at  West  Point,  representing  the  San  Francisco  district. 
Already  a  fearless  rider  and  a  daring  hunter,  he  soon  excelled  in  physical 
exercises,  taking  a  distinguished  rank  in  his  class,  and  was  graduated  in 
1868  as  Lieutenant  of  Engineers,  the  highest  corps.  He  was  a  leading  cadet 
officer  and  led  his  class  in  law,  literature,  ethics,  and  several  branches  of 
science. 

From  1868  to  '71,  LIEUTENANT  SAVAGE  served  as  Engineer  officer  and 
personal  Aide-de-Camp  of  the  heroic  Gen.  Geo.  H.  Thomas,  who  was  attracted 
to  the  spirited  young  officer  who  had  executed  dangerous  and  difficult  duiies 
on  the  Western  frontiers.  From  1861  MR.  SAVAGE  had  been  writing  now-for- 
gotten poetry  for  the  Golden  Era,  essays  and  newspaper  work,  and  desirous 
of  travel,  he  resigned  from  the  army  and  visited  Europe  for  two  years. 

Possessing  the  confidence  of  President  Grant,  he  was  given  several 
diplomatic  appointments,  among  which  were  a  consular  position  at  Marseilles 
and  Rome,  and  later  a  commission  to  examine  Mexican  and  Texan  outrages 
By  the  choice  of  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  he  was  named  to  fill  the  position  oi 


confidential  and  military  secretary  to  Gen.  Chas.  P.  Stone,  in  Egypt,  and 
after  finally  leaving  the  diplomatic  service,  engaged  in  railroad  engineering  in 
Texas  and  later,  practiced  engineering  in  California. 

Retiring  from  business  in  1884,  he  resumed  his  first  profession— the 
law  — and  cast  his  eyes  toward  the  literary  field  in  the  intervals  of  seven 
years'  travel  and  residence  abroad.  Domiciled  to-day  in  New  York  City,  in  a 
home  filled  with  the  trophies  of  travel  and  adventure,  the  world-wearied 
writer  has  returned  to  his  native  State.  With  a  marvellous  memory,  an 
untold  fund  of  adventure,  and  a  quaint  library,  the  ex-soldier,  abandoning 
society,  finds  his  books  and  the  companionship  of  his  accomplished  wife  fill- 
ing these  days  of  quiescence.  New  York  has  drawn  John  Brisben  Walker. 
Arthur  Sherburne  Hardy,  and  Col.  Savage  together,  and  they  want  to  capture 
that  brilliant  and  daring  veteran  Captain  Charley  King,  (now  on  a  two  years' 
run  in  Europe),  and  reunite  in  the  metropolis  the  quartette  of  the  literary 
West  Pointers  of  thirty  years  ago.  It  is  strange  that  they  have  all  been 
strikingly  successful. 

COLONEL  SAVAGE  is  matched  in  social  and  personal  experience  by  few 
men.  His  range  has  been  from  Siberia  to  the  Red  Sea,  from  the  wilds  of 
Central  America  and  the  plains  to  the  Greek  Sea  and  the  Winter  Palace 
Tall,  energetic,  and  animated,  his  conversation  teems  with  memories  of  me 
of  many  lands  and  grades.  It  is  hard  to  realize  that  Cortina  the  raidei 
William  Walker,  Lola  Montes,  and  Billy  Florence,  are  companion  negative^ 
with  Pius  IX.,  General  Grant,  Ismail  Pasha,  and  Denis  Kearney  in  one 
man's  mind.  From  the  frontier  camp-fire  to  the  Coliseum,  from  the  Sand  Lot 
to  a  palace  ball,  the  traveller  has  threaded  the  mazes  of  a  strange  life. 

COLONEL  SAVAGE  is  an  excellent  speaker  and  his  lectures  at  Yale 
College,  the  University  of  California,  and  other  public  institutions  have  been 
delightful.  He  eschews  literary  society  and  bohemianism,  and  stands  alone — 
a  firm  believer  in  the  romantic  school. 

In  his  mingling  with  great  men,  with  a  remarkable  personal  experience 
in  the  four  quarters  of  the  globe,  and  his  acquaintance  with  cosmopolitan 
society,  COLONEL  SAVAGE  stands  high  as  a  man  of  thought  and  action. 
Thrilling  episodes  in  his  useful  and  eventful  life  were  his  two  thousand  miles 
march  in  Arizona  in  1869,  before  a  rail  was  laid;  his  winter  experience  in  1870 
in  the  great  fastnesses  of  the  Northern  Sierras,  with  Pitt  River  and  Modoc 
Indians  on  the  Round  Valley  Survey;  his  lonely  ride  from  Mangalile  through 
the  jungles  of  Honduras;  his  facing  the  terrific  cholera  pest  in  Japan  and 
Corea  in  1886,  as  well  as  the  adventures  on  the  wild  Rio  Grande  border  in 


'72;  and  a  desperate  boat  adventure  in  the  Caribbean  in  1890.  His  collection 
of  personal  and  military  relics  is  a  museum,  while  his  correspondence  with 
the  great  men  of  the  last  twenty  years  is  a  sacred  trust. 

A  treasured  ornament  of  his  sanctum  is  a  superb  silver  bowl  given  to 
him  by  the  Committee  of  Safety  in  San  Francisco  for  services  in  aiding  the 
suppression  of  the  Kearney  riots  of  1877.  His  engineering  record  stands 
firmly  from  lighthouses  on  the  Red  Sea,  and  a  railroad  in  Texas,  to  towering 
iron  architectural  ornaments  of  San  Francisco.  His  essays,  theses,  sketches, 
and  journalistic  volunteer  work,  as  well  as  speeches,  would  embrace  several 
volumes  and  may  yet  be  collected. 

A  distaste  for  criminal  law  and  political  manipulation  caused  him  to 
adopt  literature  as  a  change.  In  his  six  published  works,  he  reviews  life 
experiences,  "The  Little  Lady  of  Lagunitas"  being  a  marvellous  story  of  early 
California;  "Prince  Schamyl's  Wooing,"  a  scholarly  Russian  romance;  "The 
Masked  Venus"  and  "Delilah  of  Harlem,"  mirror  the  gilded  intrigues  of  later 
years,  and  "The  Passing  Show"  gives  us  saven  thrilling  stories  of  actual 
experience.  A  strong  dramatic  shade  in  several  of  these  works  forecasts  their 
adaptation  for  the  stage. 

COLONEL  SAVAGE  is  a  type  of  the  self-contained  American,  and 
equipped  with  extensive  studies,  a  cosmopolitan  acquaintance,  a  splendid 
linguist,  has  in  view  further  foreign  travel  in  his  literary  researches.  A 
charming  raconteur,  a  patient  and  dauntless  traveller,  he  is  known  from  the 
Neva  to  the  United  Service  Club,  and  from  the  Nile  to  Edinburgh. 

A  splendid  German  and  English  appreciation  of  his  works  is  evinced 
in  their  great  sale  abroad,  "My  Official  Wife"  being  now  in  French,  German, 
Swedish,  and  Italian.  A  uniform  library  edition  in  German  is  soon  to  appear. 

In  pursuance  of  future  literary  plans,  this  indefatigab1-  author  has  placed 
the  publishing  of  his  entire  works  in  the  hands  of  Frank  Tennyson  Neely, 
of  Chicago,  who  has  achieved  wonders  with  "  The  Passing  Show "  in  the 
way  of  brilliant  sales.  His  great  success  with  this  book  has  induced  MR. 
SAVAGE  to  place  in  his  hands  all  of  his  previous  novels  not  permanently 
engaged,  as  well  as  his  future  books,  thus  removing  his  publication  head- 
quarters from  New  York  to  Chicago. 

By  November  1st,  Mr.  Neely  will  bring  out  the  most  exciting  and 
dashing  of  COLONEL  SAVAGE'S  conceptions,  a  thrilling  and  delightful  border 
romance  entitled,  "For  Life  and  Love,"  a  story  of  the  Rio  Grande.  Another 
maze  of  descriptive  word  painting,  skillful  plot,  and  a  case  where  true  love 
wins  the  race  of  life!—  Tlie  Chicago  Herald,  Sunday,  October  8,  1893. 


CONTENTS. 


BOOK  I. 

"LOVE  THAT  HATH  US  IN  THE  NET.' 


PAGE 

CHAPTER  I. — Jack  Manson's  Orders— From 
the  Rockies  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico — The  Day  Star.  -  9 

«  II. — In  Washington  —  Waiting  for 

the  Nation's  Choice  — Jack's 
NewFriend — The  "Empress."  3 1 

«  III. — The  Course  of  True  Love — A 

Snake  in  the  Grass — Creole 
Wiles — A  Virginian  at  Home.  52 

"  IV. — Foxes  in  Council — Snares  for 

the  Unwary — Croesus  and  the 
Senator.  -  -  -  -  74 


BOOK  II. 

THE  RIO  GRANDE  COMPANY. 

CHAPTER       V. — That  Mysterious   Company — A 
Paper  Railroad — The    Secret 
Meeting — Ill-Gotten    Gains — 
Mildred  Smiley's  False  Lover.     94 
<(  VI.— On  His    Guard— The    Crescent 

City — Tom  Bayard  Sees  a 
Forgotten  Face — An  Awk- 
ward Rencontre  —  Ramon 
Maxan's  Oath.  -  -  -  118 


CONTENTS.  7 

PAGE 

CHAPTER  VII.— On  the  Gulf— The  Storm-King's 
Wrath— The  Spirit  of  Love 
—Out  of  the  Jaws  of  Death!  -  148 


BOOK  III. 

ON  THE  BORDER. 

CHAPTER  VIII.— The  Telegraph's  Mysteries  — 
On  the  Mail  Yacht — The 
Burning  Bark  off  Padre  Island 
— At  Corpus  Christi — A  Sena- 
torial Marriage  Makes  Strange 
Friends.  -  -  -  -  166 
«  IX.— A  Night  at  "Joe  Garcia's"— 
"Our  First  Citizens "— Old 
Mark's  Letters — Mrs.  Senator 
Steele — Maxan  in  Ambush 
— A  Frontier  King.  -  -  197 
"  X. — At  San  Miguel — "For  My 
Sake"—  With  the  Wild 
Riders — A  Fighting  Trinity 
—The  Tiger  Balked  of  His 
Prey. 220 

BOOK  IV. 

THE  JAGUAR'S  DESPERATE  STRUGGLE. 

CHAPTER      XI. — Manson's  Matchless  Steed — A 
Harmonious    Directory  —  An 
Hour  in  a  Washington  Boudoir 
— A  Strange    Warning.         -  255 
"  XII.— For    Life    and    Love— On    the 

Wild  Prairie  —  Mrs.  Mar- 
shall's Letter — Silas'  Voyage 
— At  Hacienda  Maxan — Pan- 
chita  — *The  Jaguar  on  the 
Trail — A  Thunderbolt — Lost 
Katie  —  First  Blood  for  Jack 
— A  Captured  Message.  -  279 


8  CONTENTS. 

PAG  a 

CHAPTER  XIII. — The  Avengers  —  Daybreak  at 
Las  Cuevas — Jimmy  Leaven- 
worth's  Fancy  Shot  —  Over 
the  Border — The  Rangers — 
Storming  the  Wolf's  Den — 
Colonel  Mejia's  Way — Padre 
Antonio  —  A  Dangerous 
Nurse. 314 


BOOK  V. 

THE  LAST  THROW  OF  THE  DICE.        LOVE  WINS ! 

CHAPTER  XIV. — Katie's  Story — Maxan's  Re- 
venge— Bob  Kenyon  Sees  the 
Light  at  Last — An  Upheaval 
— The  Company's  Downfall 
— No.  4  Draws  Out! — The 
Railroad  Builders — Black 
Clouds  of  Trouble  —  The 
Jaguar  in  Hiding.  -  -  346 

«  XV.— A  Notable  Abdication— "What! 

Both?" — "Jimmy  Also" — A 
Captive  King — On  the  Pecos 
—  The  Talking  Wire  — The 
Peon  Boy's  Gratitude — At  the 
Painted  Caves — The  Jaguar  at 
Bay — "Your  Life  or  Mine!" 
— «  My  Son  Jack."  -  -  382 
XVI.— The  Brides  of  San  Miguel— 
Senorita  Panchita — The  Con- 
gressional Election — At  Arun- 
del  House — A  Fallen  Star 
—From  the  Dead !— Milly 
Steele's  Visitor  —  A  Nueces 
Branch  of  the  Railroad  — 
Under  the  Southern  Cross!  -  417 


FOR   LIFE  AND  LOVE. 

A  STORY  OF  THE  RIO  GRANDE. 


.   BOOK  I. 


CHAPTER  I. 

JACK  HANSON'S  ORDERS — FROM  THE   "ROCKIES"   TO 
THE  GULF  OF  MEXICO — THE  DAY  STAR! 

"WHAT  nonsense!"  cried  handsome  Jack  Manson, 
as  he  hurled  the  book  he  had  vainly  essayed  to  read, 
into  the  dim  recesses  of  the  room,  now  shadowed  by 
the  dusk  of  evening.  The  offending  volume  fell,  torn 
and  fluttering  its  leaves  in  vain  protest,  into  a  jungle  of 
instruments,  surveying  chains,  saddles,  guns,  books,  and 
frontier  gear. 

Manson  glared  at  the  ruined  romance,  and,  springing 
from  his  couch,  lit  a  lamp  and  carefully  filled  his  pipe. 
"'She  Loved  Another!'  Well!  suppose  she  did!" 
he  growled,  as  he  gazed  wearily  at  the  rough  interior 
of  the  temporary  Engineer  Headquarters  building  at 
Cheyenne.  Pacing  the  room  with  uneasy  strides, 
Manson  gazed  from  the  uncurtained  windows.  The 
September  winds  were  blowing  keen  and  chill  from 
the  Rockies,  far  above  him.  Never  before  had  the 
bald,  gray,  stony  hills  looked  so  uninviting.  Cheyenne 


IO  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

in  1872  was  not  an  agreeable  place  of  residence;  for  the 
horde  of  gamblers,  thieves,  and  outcasts  who  followed 
the  construction  of  the  Union  Pacific  Road,  still 
lingered  to  grace  the  society  of  Manson's  temporary 
home.  Wyoming,  at  this  date,  proudly  boasted  daily, 
robberies,  "  shooting  scrapes,"  lynchings,  and  a  more 
generally  assorted  deviltry  than  any  division  of  the 
Union;  with  a  slight  polite  reservation  in  favor  of 
Texas.  The  outlook  was  unlovely! 

"  It's  a  bad  case  of  the  blues,"  muttered  Manson,  as 
he  threw  himself  into  a  rough  chair,  and  listened,  vacant 
minded,  to  the  rattle  of  the  dishes  in  the  adjoining  shed, 
where  Hop  Wo,  the  Chinese  Soyer,  was  preparing  the 
usual  feast  of  coarse  food. 

Frontier  beef,  canned  stuff,  i.  e.  preserved  tinned 
goods,  alleged  bread  and  campaign  coffee,  were  the 
usual  garnishings  of  the  mess  table,  unadorned  by  linen. 
Jack  Manson,  as  a  division  engineer  on  the  Union 
Pacific  Railroad,  was  finishing  up  the  final  professional 
work  on  the  line,  hastily  thrown  down  from  1866  to 
1 868.  In  the  fierce  race  between  the  Central  Pacific 
and  the  Union  Pacific  to  build  the  greatest  number  of 
miles  and  gain  the  largest  national  subsidy,  Jack 
Manson  had  been  the  main-stay  of  the  Chief.  For  six 
long  years  the  young  engineer  had  toiled  with  transit, 
level,  and  field-book  over  the  unbroken  prairies  and 
through  the  rocky  gorges  of  the  mountain  spurs. 
Sometimes  working  with  rifle  in  one  hand  and  the 
compass  in  the  other,  the  young  man  was  jaded  and 
wearied  with  anxiety,  fatigue,  and  danger. 

Now  the  lines  were  to  be  rectified,  grades  reduced, 
curves  enlarged,  and  all  the  real  finishing  work  executed 
under  his  watchful  eye.  His  mind  had  grasped  the 
needs  of  the  situation,  and  two  hundred  miles  of  the 
road  were  photographed  in  his  brain. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  II 

"  Anderson  should  be  here  now!"  he  murmured,  rous- 
ing himself,  as  the  moon-eyed  Hop  Wo  silently  spread 
the  frugal  board.  "I'll  wait  a  little !"  His  head  fell 
on  his  breast  in  revery.  He  had  sent  his  assistant  on  a 
reconnoissance  trip  of  fifty  miles  to  examine  a  proposed 
detour  of  the  hastily  patched-up  road. 

"  I  wonder  if  the  Indians  have  got  him,"  Jack 
anxiously  pondered.  Sioux,  Cheyennes,  Ogallalas, 
Blackfeet,  Kiowas,  and  other  murderous  tribes  had 
amused  themselves  for  years  in  harassing  small  parties, 
butchering  teamsters,  and  dashing  unawares  on  the 
scientists  at  their  work.  The  young  man's  head 
drooped  and  his  eyes  were  very  dreamy. 

"Is  this  to  last  forever?  "  he  murmured.  The  six 
years  since  he  left  the  Polytechnic  at  Troy  were  a  mere 
dreary  waste  of  life.  Dull  days  unmarked  by  aught 
save  the  varied  dangers  of  the  Sioux  country  and  the 
arduous  labor  of  his  profession. 

A  rush  and  clatter  of  hoofs!  Jack  sprang  to  the 
door  and  peered  into  the  darkness.  "  Is  that  you, 
Harry?"  he  cried  anxiously. 

"All  right,  Chief,"  was  the  cheery  response,  as 
Harry  Anderson  strode  into  the  room,  now  quite 
inviting  with  its  huge  log-fire  and  the  steaming  supper. 

"  Come  in,  Allison,  when  you've  put  the  horses 
up,"  said  Harry,  as  he  threw  off  his  pistol-belt  and 
unbuckled  his  spurs.  The  guide  disappeared  with  the 
tired  steeds,  and,  after  a  hearty  greeting,  the  two  young 
men  attacked  the  waiting  repast. 

"Anything  special,  Harry  ?"  queried  Jack,  as  he 
heaped  a  plate  for  the  hungry  rider. 

"Not  much,"  said  Harry,  between  bites;  "we  hid  in 
an  arroyo  from  a  little  war  party  of  young  bucks — 
about  half  a  dozen.  Allison  wanted  to  try  his  Win- 
chester. I  wouldn't  let  him.  We  were  fired  at  in 


12  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

the  canon  behind  Bald  Peak.  Road  agents,  I  guess! 
Probably  took  us  for  a  couple  of  deputies  hunting 
horse  thieves! " 

"How  about  the  line?"  queried  Manson,  with  some 
interest.  Anderson  swallowed  a  cup  of  coffee  and 
slowly  replied: 

"  Very  good ;  we  can  save  that  heavy  grade  on  the 
divide  and  go  around,  well  protected  from  land  slides 
and  floods." 

"  Excellent!  "  cried  the  overjoyed  Manson.  "  Harry," 
said  he,  "  If  I  leave  nothing  else,  I  wish  to  show  the 
Chief  our  division  in  first-class  trim,  when  he  comes 
over  the  road.  I'll  look  over  the  notes  and  sketches 
by  and  by."  Silence  reigned  until  the  hungry  assistant 
had  revenged  himself  for  the  three  days'  bivouac 
privations. 

Pipes  lit,  by  the  blazing  fire  the  two  friends  awaited 
Allison's  return.  They  were  types  of  manhood,  yet 
differing  widely. 

Jack  Manson's  five  feet  ten  inches  gave  his  well-knit 
frame  a  certain  dignity.  Crisp,  curling  brown  hair 
shaded  his  sunburned  brows,  beneath  which  a  pair  of 
clear  blue  eyes  sparkled  with  the  fire  of  youth.  The 
straight  nose,  firm  mouth,  and  square-cut  chin  made  him 
the  ideal  of  a  resolute  Anglo-Saxon,  in  the  American 
edition.  Quick,  lithe,  and  neat-footed,  his  whole  being 
exhaled  energy  and  decision. 

A  sweeping  mustache,  worthy  of  a  trooper,  gave  an 
air  of  frontier  dash  to  the  man  whose  thoughtful  brows 
bespoke  the  mathematician,  while  Harry  Anderson, 
stocky  and  sturdy,  with  crisp,  curling  black  hair,  a 
flashing,  truculent  eye,  and  a  heavy  chest  with  rounded 
shoulders  belted  with  muscle,  was  a  representative  of 
that  stubborn  cross,  the  Scotch-Irish. 

The  night  winds  rose  and  howled  around   the  rude 


FOR    LIFE    AND    I.OVE.  13 

dwelling.  Jack  Hanson's  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  fire 
and  a  wistful  shade  crossed  his  face.  For,  in  the  utter 
loneliness  of  six  years,  the  sights  and  scenes  around  had 
grown  weary  and  distasteful. 

Manson  lifted  his  head  as  Allison,  the  guide,  strode 
into  the  room.  "  Well,  Allison,  you  brought  back  all 
your  hair,  I  see!  "  cried  Jack,  as  he  motioned  the  scout 
to  the  modest  feast. 

"  So  we  did,  Cap,"  answered  the  lank  six  footer,  as 
he  dropped  into  a  chair  and  vigorously  attacked  the 
remains  of  the  supper.  "  There  would  have  been  bald 
spots  on  our  heads  if  those  young  braves  had  caught  us 
in  the  arroyo.  I  hate  to  run  before  an  Injun,"  he 
remarked,  with  evident  disgust.  "Here,  Hop  Wo!" 
he  cried,  and  smiled  approvingly  as  the  celestial  poured 
out  a  pint  of  steaming  coffee. 

Allison,  clad  in  a  fringed  suit  of  Indian  tan  buckskin, 
was  belted  with  his  heavy  pistols  and  a  bowie-knife  of 
formidable  dimensions.  Filling  his  pipe,  he  drew  up 
with  easy  familiarity  to  the  fire.  "Thar's  entirely  too 
many  of  these  young  Sioux  bucks  knocking  around  in 
the  hills  now,  Cap.  You  ought  not  to  send  less  than 
five  or  six  men  out,  now.  You  may  get  used  to  these 
devils,  but  they  are  always  on  the  scalp  hunt!  They 
follow  for  fifty  miles  and  make  a  run  in  when  you're 
off  your  guard." 

Manson  smoked  reflectively.  "  I  will  get  up  a  half- 
dozen  good  fellows  from  the  big  camp,"  he  said.  "  I 
think  you  are  right. " 

Allison  relapsed  into  silence  and  finally,  knocking 
out  his  pipe,  said :  "  I'll  wander  over  to  town  and  look 
in  at  the  express  and  telegraph  office."  With  a  nod, 
he  disappeared  in  the  darkness.  After  a  half-hour's 
discussion  of  Anderson's  rough  notes,  Manson  said 
kindly:  "Harry,  you  turn  in!  You  are  tired!  I'll 
sit  and  smoke  awhile." 


14  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Silence  reigned  in  the  rude  shelter  as  Manson 
dreamily  gazed  in  the  fire.  An  intense  weariness,  a 
feeling  of  desolation  came  over  him.  There  was  a 
warm  strain  of  sentiment  running  through  Jack's 
nature.  The  great  logs  crackled  and  fell  into  coals, 
little  blue  and  red  flames  danced  above  the  glowing 
coals.  Young  in  years  but  old  in  experience,  happier 
days  came  back  to  him.  He  could  see  again  the 
wooded  hills  and  green  slopes  of  the  Mohawk  Valley, 
with  the  river  flowing  gently  to  join  the  blue  Hudson. 
His  home,  his  early  friends,  his  school  and  college  days 
came  back. 

In  the  lonely  Western  cabin,  the  young  engineer 
lived  over  again  the  sad  days  when  Colonel  Manson 
was  brought  home  from  Spottsylvania,  with  the 
regimental  flag  wrapped  around  his  coffin. 

The  gentle  mother  who  followed  her  dead  soldier  to 
the  land  of  shadows  came  back  once  more,  and  he 
could  hear  again  her  last  appeal  to  grim  old  Mark 
Manson,  his  uncle,  "Take  care  of  Jack,  Mark!  He's 
all  alone  now ! "  The  young  man  could  see  his  stern 
uncle,  standing  with  a  suspiciously  moist  eye,  by  the 
pale  woman,  waiting  for  the  summons,  and  hear  him 
say  again,  "  I'll  make  a  man  of  him,  Helen! " 

A  great  log  fell  down  and  broke  in  crackling  frag- 
ments; Jack  rose  and  trimmed  the  fire.  He  sighed  as 
he  gazed  at  stout  Harry  Anderson,  sleeping  like  a 
child.  "He  does  not  care,"  bitterly  thought  Jack. 
"  But  I  was  made  for  better  things  than  this ! " 

"  True,"  he  soliloquized,  "  Uncle  Mark  educated  me, 
has  stood  by  me,  and  between  him  and  my  work,  I 
have  gained  promotion!  But  there's  another  life  than 
this.  Home,  friends,  books,  the  thousand  delights  of 
civilization,  and — and — "  the  young  man's  mind  drifted 
away  into  a  dream  of  fair  women.  The  wine  of  life 


FOR    LIFE     AND    I.OVE.  l5 

was  stirring  in  the  handsome  fellow's  veins.  "  It's  a 
death  in  life,"  he  growled.  "  I  have  not  seen  a  woman 
I  knew  for  years."  He  ignored  the  several  Indian 
princesses  of  note  he  had  met.  "  Brave  Rainbow," 
"  Moonlight  Shadow,"  and  "  Bounding  Antelope," 
daughters  of  war  chiefs,  were  young  Sioux  rosebuds 
somewhat  peculiar  in  their  habits.  "  Brave  Rainbow  " 
was  far  too  fond  of  firewater;  "  Moonlight  Shadow  '' 
would  slyly  abstract  anything  lighter  than  an  army 
wagon,  and  "  Bounding  Antelope  "  he  had  seen  the  day 
before,  "  al  fresco,"  calmly  lunching  from  portions  of  a 
dead  army  mule. 

"  Not  up  to  the  ideal  of  Pocahontas  or  Minnehaha," 
Manson  sneered.  As  for  the  pale  anaemic  frontier 
women,  they  were  draggled  children  of  misery — vainly 
wandering  to  and  fro  with  their  uncouth  liege  lords. 
Saddened,  hopeless  drudges,  were  these  poor  feminine 
pioneers.  Occasional  glimpses  of  weary,  dusty,  cross- 
looking  women  tourists,  sullenly  gazing  from  car  win- 
dows exasperated  the  impressionable  youth — for  it  was 
before  the  days  of  vestibuled  luxury,  and  feminine 
graces  were  but  feebly  affected  by  the  tired,  jaded  trav- 
ellers of  that  day. 

As  for  the  shrill-voiced,  unabashed  "  beauties"  of  the 
ambulatory  settlement  following  the  railroad,  they  were 
merely  "  wrecks  on  error's  shore."  They  were  house- 
less shadows,  flitting  specters,  these  wild-eyed,  battered 
Maenads,  flaunting  the  crimson  flag  of  vice,  with  no 
rosy  charms  to  beguile. 

"  I  would  like  to  see  a  sweet  bright  woman  once 
more,"  he  muttered  as  the  fire  sank  low.  A  child  of 
care,  early  thrown  on  his  own  resources,  Manson  felt 
that  he  was  alone  in  the  battle  of  life,  with  no  tender 
eyes  following  his  pathway  in  the  conflict.  His  youth 
was  hard  and  lonely,  his  early  manhood  a  social  blank. 


l6  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"Will  it  ever  end!  Shall  I  lay  my  bones  down 
in  these  gray  hills!"  He  gave  a  stray  log  a  kick,  and 
sought  his  fur-decked  couch. 

Before  his  eyes  closed,  the  door  was  thrown  open. 
Allison  strode  in,  bringing  gusts  of  night  wind  with 
him,  setting  the  dying  embers  flaring.  "Telegram  for 
you,  Cap!  Answer  immediate!  I'll  saddle  my  horse 
and  ride  down  with  your  answer  to  the  station.  Office 
in  town  shut  now.  I'll  be  back  in  five  minutes."  The 
sturdy  guide  cheerfully  stalked  off  to  toss  the  saddle 
on  his  jaded  pony. 

By  the  gleam  of  the  one  kerosene  lamp  which  the 
palace  of  science  boasted,  Manson  read  the  words 
flashed  over  the  talking  wire.  He  sprang  up  with  a 
shout  which  aroused  even  the  tired  Anderson,  who 
growled:  "What's  up,  Chief?" 

Manson  stood  by  the  table,  the  paper  fluttering  in 
his  hand.  He  devoured  it  over  and  over  again.  Its 
laconic  words  thrilled  his  very  heart.  He  handed  it  to 
Anderson  without  a  word.  The  missive  needed  no 
explanation.  It  was  dated  New  York,  September  8, 
1872,  and  its  fateful  contents  were: 

"Turn  your  division  over  to  Anderson,  promoted.  Settle 
your  accounts  with  Chief  Engineer  at  Omaha.  Come  here  at 
once;  want  you  to  go  South.  Draw  for  funds,  if  needed. 
Answer." 

The  signature  was  that  of  the  potent  railway 
magnate,  steamboat  king,  and  financial  prince,  Mark 
Manson. 

Jack  threw  himself  in  a  chair,  and  said  quietly,  "I 
congratulate  you,  Harry.  That  means  two  thousand 
a  year  increase  to  you." 

"When  will  you  go,  old  man?  By  Jove!  This  is 
sudden ! "  ejaculated  Anderson,  still  half  asleep. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  1 7 

Hanson's  flying  fingers  traced  a  few  lines  with 
nervous  eagerness.  He  tossed  it  to  Anderson.  The 
overjoyed,  newly-made  Division  Engineer  read: 

H 

"Leave  on  to-morrow's  train.  Report  forthwith.  No  funds 
needed." 

As  Anderson's  eye  scanned  the  last  word,  the  clatter 
of  hoofs  announced  Allison,  who  grasped  the  despatch 
and  dashed  away  in  the  darkness,  his  horse  striking 
fire  from  the  flinty  float  rock,  with  his  armed  hoofs. 

There  was  an  end  to  sleep.  With  the  aid  of  sundry 
candles,  and  the  glaring  kerosene,  Manson  began 
throwing  together,  in  a  pile,  such  traps  as  he  proposed 
to  save  from  the  flitting. 

"  The  train  comes  along  at  7 130,"  said  Manson,  as  he 
stuffed  his  private  papers  into  his  trunk  and  tossed  in 
at  random  the  few  belongings  he  was  encumbered 
with. 

"  You  can  give  me  a  memorandum  receipt,  Harry, 
for  the  instruments  and  records.  Send  your  full  papers 
on  to  New  York.  Keep  all  this  trash  here.  It  will  be 
of  some  use  to  you." 

Anderson  nodded  and  with  his  executive  dash,  roused 
the  son  of  the  Flowery  Kingdom  and  announced  the 
early  departure. 

When  Allison,  wearied  and  chilled,  entered  the  room, 
he  was  visibly  affected  by  the  news,  and  even  more  so 
by  the  present  of  Manson's  riding  gear  and  formidable 
armament. 

Over  a  reserved  bottle  of  good  Bourbon,  the  three 
companions  of  many  dangerous  ventures  held  an 
impromptu  carnival  of  frontier  jollity. 

The  stars  were  low  in  the  west,  and  the  genial 
volunteer  orchestra  of  coyotes  was  waking  the  echoes  of 
the  surrounding  hills — a  hint  of  daybreak — when 


iS  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Manson  threw  himself  down  for  two  hours'  sleep.  He 
tossed  uneasily  in  the  wildest  dreams. 

It  cost  Jack  a  heart  wrench,  as  four  hours  later  he 
wrung  Anderson's  hand,  when  the  screech  of  the 
locomotive  warned  the  friends  of  the  parting  hour. 

"God  bless  you,  old  boy!  Goon  up  to  the  top!" 
cried  Jack,  as  the  elated  Anderson  essayed  vainly  to 
say  "  Good-bye."  Six  years  of  toil  and  danger  had 
knitted  closely  their  bond  of  brotherhood.  Allison, 
loose-jointed  and  laconic,  grasped  the  young  traveller's 
hand  with  the  grip  of  a  vise. 

"Good-bye,  Cap!"  he  heartily  said,  "  Yer  as  squar' 
a  man  as  ever  straddled  a  horse!  When  ye've  got  a 
pretty  wife,  you'll  be  over  here  in  a  director's  car. 
Don't  forget  the  boys !  " 

Hop  Wo,  with  forethought,  presented  sundry  dainties, 
and  grinned  an  approving  adieu  as  he  pocketed  a 
bright  twenty-dollar  piece. 

The  tired  eyes  of  Manson  closed  in  slumber  as  the 
train  tore  along,  past  the  unbroken  sameness  of  the 
rolling  hills,  and  in  the  young  man's  dreams  a  haunting 
sense  of  curious  expectancy  kept  his  nerves  in  feverish 
unrest. 

In  half-waking  hours  he  experienced  a  delicious 
sense  of  restf  ulness,  as  he  noted  from  hour  to  hour  the 
old  familiar  scenes  of  storm,  toil,  privation,  and  danger 
flit  by. 

Memories  of  friends  dead,  of  unnoticed  hardship,  and 
lonely  hours  came  back  as  the  familiar  names,  Sidney, 
Ogalalla,  North  Platte,  Plum  Creek,  and  Grand  Island 
sounded  on  his  ear.  In  two  days  he  glided  over  the 
thousand  miles  over  which  he  had  trudged,  transit 
on  shoulder,  revolver  at  belt,  for  six  weary  years.  It 
was  only  when  the  red  banks  of  the  Missouri,  crested 
with  Omaha's  straggling  houses,  appeared  in  front, 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  19 

that  he  turned  his  tired  head  and  said,  "  Good-bye,  Mr. 
Sioux  Brave  and  Mrs.  Sioux  Squaw!  May  we  never 
meet  again." 

Two  hours  of  the  next  morning  sufficed  to  settle  his 
accounts.  The  grizzled  Chief  of  the  Trans- Continental 
Line  handed  him  a  testimonial,  his  arrearages,  and  a 
check  for  one  year's  pay. 

"General,  I  do  not  understand  this,"  said  Manson, 
his  cheek  flushing ;  "  I  do  not  ask  for  presents." 

"  Take  all  you  can  get  in  this  world,  my  boy !"  said 
the  busy  ex-general,  now  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Union 
Pacific. 

"  Don't  be  so  bashful !  Did  you  ever  hear  of  the  Credit 
Mobilier?  This  is  some  of  their  loose  funds — a  little 
fragment.  It's  orders  from  headquarters  anyway." 

Manson  winced,  for  well  he  knew  that  silent  old 
Mark  Manson  was  the  arch  high  priest  of  that 
mysterious  body.  He  pocketed  the  check  and  declined 
the  general's  plea  for  a  parting  dinner. 

"I  must  hasten  along,"  he  said,  while  returning 
thanks.  "  By  the  way,  General,  do  you  know  where  I 
am  to  go?  " 

The  general's  steady  gray  eye  almost  condescended 
to  a  wink.  "  Did  you  ever  know  Mark  Manson  to  tell 
his  business?  " 

The  young  man  was  fain  to  wait  for  the  answer  at 
New  York. 

"  By  the  way,  my  young  friend,"  said  the  chief,  as 
he  grasped  Jack's  hand  in  farewell,  "  don't  forget  to 
visit  the  tailor's  in  Chicago.  A  man  may  be  a  swell  in 
Cheyenne  and  yet  cut  a  strange  figure  on  Broadway." 
The  old  engineer  laughed  heartily  as  he  swung  Jack 
around  before  a  mirror. 

Manson  joined  gleefully  in  the  burst  of  merriment. 
"  By  Jove ! "  he  cried,  "  I  thank  you.  Now  I  remember, 
even  here  people  stared  at  me." 


20  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

For  his  handsome  face  and  splendid  physique  made 
a  medley  of  frontier  garb — soldier's  uniform  and  nicked 
up  "  store  goods  " — seem  ridiculous. 

"  You  will  see  hosts  of  pretty  girls  in  Chicago  and 
eastwardly,"  the  chief  chuckled.  "  They  would  take 
you  for  the' Whirlwind  of  the  Prairies'  or  '  Dead  wood 
Bill,  the  Man  Eater.'  " 

Light-hearted  and  happy,  Manson  crossed  the  muddy 
Missouri.  Two  days  in  Chicago  sufficed  to  restore  him 
to  the  outward  semblance  of  civilization.  His  face 
seemed  strange  as  he  gazed  at  the  splendor  of  raiment 
unaccustomed  in  use  for  six  weary  years. 

Save  the  ruddy  brown  of  his  cheek  and  the  stern, 
almost  careworn  expression  of  his  features,  Jack  was 
now  the  "  every-day  young  man "  as  he  sought  the 
easy  Pullman  for  the  final  stage  of  his  journey.  No 
trace  of  his  frontier  life  lingered  with  him  save  a 
nervous  distrust  of  the  crowded  sidewalks  and  a  longing 
to  take  the  middle  of  the  street.  He  had  conquered  his 
habit  of  looking  to  right,  left,  and  rear  for  concealed 
foes  in  ambush,  but  was  forced  to  admit  the  danger  of  a 
fusillade  of  admiring  eyes  from  the  milliner  stores  and 
corner  shops.  Women  in  all  their  charming  variations 
of  dress,  feature,  and  diverse  attractions  made  Chicago 
seem  a  sort  of  brick-and-mortar  Eden.  With  a  sigh  of 
relief  he  saw  the  Lake  City  fade  away  behind  him. 
The  fresh  breeze  from  the  water  served  to  brush  away 
his  olden  cares.  Jack,  having  announced  his  arrival  in 
New  York  by  telegraph,  felt  a  keen  enjoyment  in 
yielding  to  a  destiny  pointed  out  by  the  stern  old  Croesus 
who  waited  for  him. 

Hourly  his  spirits  rose,  and,  as  the  fragrant  clouds 
from  a  Cabana  hovered  round  him,  he  ruminated: 

"Down  South,  even  Kuklux  and  Cowboys  can  not 
be  worse  neighbors  than  the  long-haired  Sioux  or  the 
Cheyenne  dog-soldiers." 


FOR.    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  21 

On  past  the  roar  of  Niagara,  down  through  the 
lovely  Mohawk  Valley  (his  head  resolutely  turned 
away  from  the  hills  hiding  his  old  home),  past  his  boy- 
hood's Alma  Mater,  and  dashing  along  the  unrivalled 
shores  of  the  Hudson,  Manson  swiftly  sped,  eager  to 
know  his  final  orders.  The  car  was  filled  with  travel- 
lers, eagerly  discussing  the  great  presidential  election 
impending.  The  burning  question  of  the  hour  was 
the  selection  of  the  hero  of  the  sword,  the  taciturn 
Grant,  or  the  eccentric  veteran  field-marshal  of  the  pen, 
Greeley,  to  preside  over  the  councils  of  the  country  for 
four  years. 

High  waxed  discussion  in  the  smoking-room,  and  the 
wearied  engineer  sought  the  interior  of  the  car. 

Nearing  the  Highlands,  a  merry  delegation  of  fair 
college  beauties  from  Vassar  joined  the  train  at  Pough- 
keepsie.  Maxwell  was  checking  his  curiosity  as  to  the 
future  by  poring  over  a  thrilling  romance,  a  weird  tale 
of  love,  one  of  those  heart-moving  narratives  whose 
sole  excuse  of  being  is  that  "  He  who  runs  may  read." 

The  sound  of  a  woman's  voice  awakened  him  from 
his  listless  day-dream  over  the  florid  pages  of  the 
novelist.  Sweet  and  low,  thrilling  in  its  soft  earnestness, 
it  seemed  to  pierce  his  very  heart.  In  uneasy  resistance 
he  lingered  a  few  minutes.  In  a  few  moments  the 
simple  artifice  of  passing  in  and  out  of  the  car  gave 
him  an  excuse  to  gaze  upon  the  unknown  whose  accents 
moved  him  so  strangely. 

Mr.  Jack  Manson  was  conscious  of  a  strange  new 
feeling  in  his  heart  as  he  turned  and  stole  a  glance  at 
the  woman  he  listened  to. 

There  was  no  mistaking  the  indications.  Two  sisters, 
emancipated  from  the  guarded  bowers  and  academic 
shades  of  Vassar,  guardian  of  these  lovely  voyagers — 
a  middle-aged  lady  of  irreproachable  manner,  dress, 


22  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

and  composure.  The  elder  girl,  tall,  with  dark  eyes 
and  a  sweet  serious  face,  was  gazing  fondly  at  the  ani- 
mated Hebe  whose  voice  had  wakened  the  lonely 
echoes  of  his  heart.  The  calm  brows  of  the  elder 
sister,  shaded  by  silken  brown  tresses,  were  worthy  of 
a  St.  Cecilia.  Stealing  a  glance  at  the  younger  stranger, 
Manson  whispered  to  himself,  "  A  dream  of  beauty!" 
And  so  the  fair  unknown  was.  Bright  and  eager,  she 
was  wondrously  lovely.  In  her  witching  deep-blue 
eyes  the  light  of  womanhood's  spring-time  sparkled. 
The  exquisite  symmetry  of  her  form  aided  the  charm 
of  the  sea-shell's  magic  tints  shading  her  fair  face. 
Manson  trifled  away  a  few  moments  and  quietly 
reseated  himself.  As  he  passed  the  unknown  beauties 
he  felt  his  cheeks  burn,  for  one  keen  flash  of  the  blue 
eyes  told  him  instantly  that  his  unconscious  admiration 
had  been  observed. 

Jack  Manson  dropped  humbly  in  his  seat  and 
feigned  to  diligently  devour  the  unfinished  story  of 
"pride  and  passion,"  which  fortunately  concealed  his 
sudden  confusion. 

Still  that  velvety  voice,  thrilling  every  fibre  of  his 
being!  "If  I  were  a  free  man,"  he  mentally  resolved, 
"  I  would  follow  that  girl  to  Greenland  to  be  near 
her." 

With  clash  and  roar  and  screaming  whistles,  the  train 
drew  into  the  great  Empire  City. 

"  I'll  have  a  last  look  at  this  rosy  fairy,"  the  young 
traveller  decided,  as  he  sprang  off  the  car  and  awaited 
the  leisurely  departure  of  the  ladies.  The  shouts  and 
bustle  of  a  great  station  confused  him  and  he  gazed 
around  in  sudden  helplessness.  His  eyes  roving  over 
the  joyous  groups  rested  at  last  upon  a  tableau  which 
chilled  his  pulses  like  an  Arctic  blast. 

The  graceful  head  of  the  blue-eyed  enchantress  was 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  23 

resting  on  the  breast  of  a  tall,  stalwart  young  man,  her 
rounded  arms  were  twined  around  his  neck. 

Jack  Manson  gasped  and  almost  dropped  his  "sac  cle 
voyage." 

" Great  Heavens!  She's  engaged!  This  closes  this 
chapter  and  the  book  forever!"  Manson  was  rooted  to 
the  spot,  and  gazed  vacantly  at  the  only  energetic 
demonstrations  of  affection  he  had  seen  for  six  years. 

He  started  in  surprise  as  the  eager  stranger  fondly 
embraced  the  St.  Cecilia  with  equal  fervor. 

"  Can  he  be  engaged  to  both  of  them  ? "  was  a 
hideous  flash-light  thought,  smacking  of  Mormonism. 
The  gentleman  from  Cheyenne  was  further  astounded 
to  see  this  universal  kisser  salute  the  dignified  and  still 
handsome  duenna  with  a  judiciously  graded  fervor. 

"Affection  mingled  with  respect!"  Jack  decided. 
"  I'll  have  a  peep  at  that  youth's  face!  He  seems  to  be 
a 'persona  grata.'  By  Jove!"  Manson  thought,  with 
an  inspiration  which  made  his  heart  bound,  "  he  may  be 
only  a  brother!  He  hugged  both  those  girls."  And, 
moving  sidelong  in  apparent  abstraction,  Jack,  the  sud- 
den prey  of  roguish  Dan  Cupid,  glared  on  the  happy 
man  whose  florid  affection  galled  the  impressionable 
traveller. 

Manson  made  one  bound,  as  he  dropped  the  satchel 
from  his  hand — his  surprise  found  vent  in  words: 

"Jimmy  Leavenworth!     By  all  that's  holy!" 

Extricating  himself  from  his  fair  captors,  the  party 
addressed  turned  his  head  sharply,  and  sprang  forward 
with  outstretched  hand. 

"Jack,  my  dear  old  boy,  where  did  you  come  from?" 

Manson  drew  a  great  breath  of  fresh  air,  and  pumped 
out  the  words:  "Cheyenne.  And  you?" 

The  calm  eyes  of  St.  Cecilia  were  fixed  on  the 
excited  pair.  The  rosy  Hebe  levelled  a  furtive  glance 


J4  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

at  the  handsome  interloper,  and  the  duenna  lifted  her 
eyebrows  in  interrogation,  as  their  escort  said: 

<;  Why,  from  Texas,  of  course !  I  came  up  here  to 
take  my  sisters  home." 

The  solid  asphalt  billowed  under  Jack's  feet,  as  he 
vacantly  remarked:  "  Oh!  I  see!  Certainly!"  And  his 
wandering  eyes  rested  upon  the  graceful  young  beauty 
before  him,  whose  eyes  dropped  strangely  under  his 
ardent  gaze. 

Leavenworth,  suddenly  recalled  to  the  duties  of 
the  moment,  most  ceremoniously  said :  "  Mrs.  Marshall, 
permit  me  to  present  my  classmate  at  the  Polytechnic, 
Mr.  John  Manson." 

Jack's  low  bow  was  worthy  of  a  Spanish  grandee. 
"  Must  conciliate  the  duenna,"  his  startled  brain  flashed 
out. 

"  Mv  sister  Alice,  Mr.  Manson,"  continued  the  over- 
joyed Leavenworth.  Jack's  composure  had  returned. 
He  bent  in  stately  homage.  "  My  sister  Katie,"  con- 
cluded the  Texan  master  of  ceremonies. 

Jack  Manson  raised  his  eyes  to  the  sweet  face  and 
for  a  moment  he  gazed  into  that  mirror  of  loveliness. 
A  bright-red  danger-flag  burned  upon  the  pretty  girl's 
cheeks  as  she  greeted  the  stranger  knight.  The  rosy 
Hebe  rippled  out  in  merry  laughter:  "  We  were 
travelling  companions,  were  we  not?" 

"By  Jove!  She  did  notice  me,"  thought  Manson 
his  pulses  throbbing. 

"  Where  do  you  go,  Jack?  "  hurriedly  cried  Leaven- 
worth. "  We  are  at  the  Fifth  Avenue.  Come  down 
there.  I  must  have  a  long  talk  with  you." 

With  deceitful  meekness,  Mr.  John  Manson,  in- 
wardly dissembling,  drifted  with  the  tide  of  his  good 
fortune,  and  in  the  carriage  in  the  growing  dusk  was 
strangely  silent.  Katie  Leavenworth's  fair  head  was 


FOR    LIFE    AND    I.OVE.  25 

resting  on  the  cushions.  Her  tired  eyes  drooped  and 
her  gracefully  moulded  arms  were  resting,  with  the 
delicately  gloved  hands  clasped.  "  A  sleeping  fairy 
princess,"  thought  the  man  who  gazed  upon  her 
virginal  beauty.  .  • 

The  sparkling  stars  were  peeping  through  the 
evening  shadows  as  the  little  circle  assembled  in  the 
salon  of  the  Fifth  Avenue.  Leavenworth  and  his 
fair  sisters,  with  Manson,  awaited  Mrs.  Marshall  who 
glided  into  the  drawing-room,  followed  .  by  a  third 
Grace,  a  surprise  to  the  mystified  Jack  who  rehearsed 
his  Chesterfieldean  bow,  as  he  was  presented  to  Miss 
Gertrude  Marshall  of  Virginia. 

The  reflection  of  Jimmy  Leavenworth's  face  in  a 
mirror  gave  keen-eyed  Jack  Manson  his  cue. 

"Here  is  the  'one  fair  woman'  who  will  rule  the 
gallant  Texan!"  It  was  even  so.  A  few  moments 
sufficed  to  inform  Manson  of  the  sisterhood  of  the 
three  beauties,  long  immured  in  the  friendly  shelter  of 
Vassar  College. 

"  I  think  Jimmy's  visits  were  half  for  his  sisters  and 
largely  for  the  sweet  Virginian,"  mused  Manson. 

The  engineer  was  right.  In  several  journeys  North, 
Jimmy  Leavenworth  had  been  swept  far  over  the  outer 
edge  of  indifference  into  the  sweeping  maelstrom  of 
love.  Gertrude  Marshall  mingled  in  her  calm,  finely 
chiselled  face  the  mental  firmness  of  her  distinguished 
father,  who  died  under  the  Stars  and  Bars  at  Malvern 
Hill,  with  the  youthful  graces  of  her  gentle  and  refined 
mother.  Liquid  gray  eyes,  a  Greek  brow,  and  lips  as 
delicate  in  tint  as  the  spring  wild  rose,  were  elements  of 
a  great  beauty  bespeaking  the  high  soul  and  the  stead- 
fast mind.  A  nameless  air  of  poise  and  fixed  purpose 
marked  her  as  a  daughter  of  the  Old  Dominion. 

With   quiet  dignity  Mrs.  Marshall  presided  over  the 


26  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

dinner,  which  was  only  interrupted  by  the  rattling 
cross-fire  of  question  and  answer  between  the  lively 
college  chums,  so  long  parted,  and  the  merry  chatter  of 
the  three  emancipated  rosebuds  of  Vassar. 

Jack  Manson  was  recalled  from  a  dream  of  unhoped- 
for delight  by  Leaven  worth's  question: 

"  Where  do  you  go  now?  " 

"  By  Jove,  old  man!  I  don't  know,  myself!"  said 
Jack.  "I  must  see  my  uncle  and  find  out." 

He  briefly  explained  his  sudden  change  of  base.  "  I 
will  take  a  coupe"  and  run  over  to  Gramercy  Park  and 
report."  The  engineer  concluded:  "Wait  for  me  in 
your  room  and  we  will  have  a  long  talk  to-night." 
"When  do  you  go  South?"  said  Manson  uneasily, 
with  a  furtive  glance  at  the  glowing  face  of  the  imperi- 
ous little  Texan  rose. 

Leavenworth  laughed  as  he  gaily  answered :  "  I  have 
to  wait  two  months  till  the  election  is  decided,  and  also 
close  up  some  important  mail-contract  business  for  my 
father  in  Washington.  He  has  numbers  of  freight, 
mail,  and  supply  contracts  with  Uncle  Sam.  I  shall 
take  my  sisters  down  to  Mrs.  Marshall's  place  at 
Fairfax  Court  House,  and  when  October  comes  give 
them  a  month  in  Washington  before  they  return  to 
Rancho  San  Miguel." 

"  Laus  Deo!"  mentally  ejaculated  Jack  Manson.  "  If 
I  can  find  Fairfax  Court  House  on  the  map,  I  think  I 
will  pass  through  there  on  my  way  to  Dixie's  Land." 

The  ladies  acknowledged  Manson's  request  to  be 
excused  with  frank  kindness,  save  the  rosy  Hebe,  who 
dropped  her  eyes  and  demurely  said  "Good-evening," 
as  Leavenworth  escorted  Jack  to  the  corridor. 

"Is  he  not  just  splendid?"  said  Gertrude  Marshall, 
with  unwonted  animation,  as  the  two  tall  comrades 
disappeared. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  2^ 

"Who?"  said  Katie  Leavenworth,  with  a  careless 
toss  of  her  pretty  head. 

"Why,  Mr.  Manson,  of  course!"  answered  the 
daughter  of  Virginia. 

"I  hardly  looked  at  him,"  replied  the  unabashed  child 
of  the  Lone  Star  State,  yet  in  her  own  heart  Katie 
knew  she  was  fibbing  to  a  degree. 

When  Jimmy  Leavenworth  shook  hands  with  Jack, 
he  whispered,  "  Is  she  not  lovely  ?  " 

Jack  started,  but  firmly  answered:  "  She's  the 
sweetest  girl  I  ever  met  in  my  life."  Leavenworth  con- 
tinued: "  Her  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  Virginia." 

"Oh,  yes,  I  see!"  cried  Manson,  with  singular 
abstraction,  as  he  darted  away.  "  I'll  be  back  in  an 
hour,  Jim,"  he  cried  from  the  elevator. 

"  That  love-sick  youth  thought  I  meant  his  Virginian 
heart's-ease.  By  Jove!  I  suppose  he  does  not  know 
how  much  lovelier  his  little  sister  is  than  the  scion  of 
Pocahontas.  Blind!  yes,  blind!"  So  sagely  ruminated 
Jack,  as  he  swiftly  sped  toward  the  stately  old  mansion 
of  the  autocrat  of  twenty  great  enterprises.  His  heart 
was  beating  with  anxiety  and  curiosity,  as  the  butler, 
with  obsequious  respect,  ushered  him  into  the  library. 
He  was  evidently  expected. 

"  Mr.  Mark  Manson  awaiting  you,  sir,"  said  the 
functionary,  with  a  glance  at  the  card. 

Seated  before  a  fire  of  hickory  logs  in  his  favorite 
den,  surrounded  by  the  wit,  wisdom,  and  lore  of  cent- 
uries, gray,  hawk-eyed  old  Mark  Manson  was  calmly 
enjoying  the  very  best  cigar  that  the  Cuban  plantations 
could  furnish.  He  turned;  one  glance  was  enough. 

"Jack,  my  boy,  I  am  thankful  for  your  prompt- 
ness. Sit  down  and  let  me  have  a  look  at  you." 
Offering  his  own  cigar-case,  the  old  millionaire,  a 
veteran  wizard  of  finance,  keenly  eyed  his  nephew. 


28  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"Looks  like  Helen,"  thought  the  senior,  with  a 
shadow  of  a  sigh  as  he  thought  of  his  dead  sister  and 
his  own  lonely  life.  Wifeless,  childless,  and  doomed  to 
keep  in  the  race  for  wealth  to  the  very  last,  Mark 
Manson's  heart  was  locked  in  a  rugged  breast.  He  had 
every  secret  detail  of  the  young  man's  career  for  the 
long  years  of  his  probation. 

"  I  guess  he  has  grown  up  a  man,  after  all.  A  fine 
fellow!"  thought  Mark,  as  he  rang  for  his  choicest 
Madeira. 

"  Where  are  you  staying,  Jack  ? "  the  magnate 
queried.  "It's  a  lonely  house,  but  you  are  welcome 
here."  ' 

"I  have  an  old  chum  at  the  Fifth  Avenue,  Uncle," 
said  Jack;  "Jimmy  L/eavenworth  of  Texas.  I  have  not 
seen  him  since  we  were  graduated.  I  would  like  to  be 
near  him  a  few  days." 

A  lightning  flash  gleamed  in  Mark's  eyes.  He 
calmly  said: 

"  Son  of  old  Si  Leavenworth  of  Rancho  San 
Miguel?" 

"Yes,  sir!"  promptly  answered  Jack,  as  his  eye 
roved  over  the  solid  grandeur  of  the  old  mansion. 

"  How  long  will  he  be  here?"  queried  Mark.  Jack 
briefly  related  Leavenworth's  plans. 

The  old  man  mused  as  he  poured  the  priceless  wine 
for  his  guest. 

"You  will  need  a  few  days'  relaxation.  You  look 
tired.  Come  over  and  breakfast  with  me  to-morrow  at 
nine,  and  I  will  give  you  your  marching  orders,"  he  said 
kindly.  "  I  know  you  want  to  talk  old  times  over  with 
your  friend.  Want  any  money?"  The  capitalist  eyed 
Manson  critically. 

"No,  sir;  thanks.  I  have  all  I  need,"  Jack  simply 
said.  "  Your  generosity  has  made  me  easy  in  funds." 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  29 

The  old  man  lifted  his  eyebrows  in  surprise.  "Well, 
youngster,  I'll  say  good-night.  Be  prompt  to-morrow. 
I  have  a  lot  of  director's  meetings.  I  suppose  you  would 
like  to  know  just  where  you  are  going." 

"Yes,  sir;"  answered  Jack  Manson,  with  a  beating 
heart. 

"  Well,  my  boy,  you  are  going  down  to  Western 
Texas,  to  build  me  a  railroad.  Make  friends  with  your 
old  chum,  for  his  father  is  the  king  of  the  frontier,  and 
I  have  extensive  landed  interests  there  with  him."  Jack's 
heart  bounded  in  his  bosom. 

"  How  do  you  like  the  title  of  Chief  Engineer? "  said 
the  hawk-billed  old  financier. 

"  I  will  try  and  do  my  duty,  sir,"  resolutely  replied 
Manson. 

"That's  right,  Jack!  Now  be  off,  my  boy.  I'll 
give  you  your  general  plan  to-morrow.  I  want  you  to 
go  to  Washington  and  see  Senator  Steele.  He's  in  with 
us.  I'll  be  down  there  next  week.  We  do  not  want  to 
break  ground  till  we  know  who  will  be  President.  The 
election  of  Greeley  would  paralyze  our  finances  and 
stop  all  enterprise.  We  want  no  theorist,  however 
honest  and  kindly.  We  want  a  strong  man.  We 
must  have  Grant.  Now  Steele  knows  that  country, 
he  can  post  you.  You  are  in  my  pay,  sir,  from  the 
day  when  you  left  Cheyenne.  Take  a  little  relaxation. 
I  wish  you  to  cultivate  Senator  Steele  and  your  young 
friend  Jimmy.  It's  a  fortunate  meeting,  Jack,  a  very 
fortunate  meeting!  Good-night,  boy!"  the  old  man 
said,  as  Jack  rose.  "Keep  this  to  yourself  for  the 
present!" 

"Sharp  nine!"  was  the  last  injunction  of  the  gray 
schemer. 

His  words  fell  on  unheeding  ears,  for  as  the  great 
door  clashed  behind  him,  Jack  sprang  into  his  coupe 


3O  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

and  every  click  of  the  wheels  seemed  to  echo  a  name 
grown  strangely,  suddenly  dear.  The  refrain  was 
"Katie!  Katie!  Katie!" 

A  grateful  but  astounded  cabman  glared  in  wonder 
at  the  five-dollar  bill  pressed  in  his  hand,  as  Jack  darted 
into  the  office  of  the  Fifth  Avenue. 

"  That  chap's  a  lunatic,  or  in  love ! "  the  Jehu 
reasoned.  "He's  not  on  his  wine.  I  guess  it's  love!" 

Cabby  was  right.  The  subtle  philtre  of  love  was 
moving  in  the  veins  of  man  and  maid  that  pleasant 
night,  for  Jack's  secret  joy  made  his  eyes  dance. 

"  I  shall  be  near  her,"  he  thought  with  exultation. 

Dainty  wilful  Katie's  blue  eyes  closed,  in  deep,  yet 
happy,  slumber;  for  she  whispered,  "  I  would  not  let 
Gertie  know  I  did  look  at  him;  but — but — Jimmy's 
friend  is  so  manly,  so  pleasant,"  and,  with  a  gleam- 
ing silver  arm  for  a  pillow,  the  heiress  of  San  Miguel 
slept  the  calm  unbroken  sleep  of  innocence. 

Late  into  the  night,  the  reunited  collegians  recounted 
their  adventures  in  the  swiftly  flying  years,  and  when 
they  separated,  the  magic  spell  of  youth,  high  hope, 
and  budding  affection  brought  dreams  of  the  Greek- 
browed  patrician  girl  to  the  hawk-eyed  Texan,  and 
Jack  Manson's  midnight  hours  were  blessed  with 
thoughts  of  the  rosy  fingered  Hebe  of  the  deep-blue 
eyes. 

The  silent  stars,  sweeping  to  the  west,  sparkled  over 
them  as  the  invisible  web  of  love,  spun  by  the  good 
fairies,  knitted  together  four  young  hearts  beating  high 
with  hope. 


FOR    LIFE    AND     LOVE.  3! 


CHAPTER  II. 

IN  WASHINGTON — WAITING  FOR  THE  NATION'S  CHOICE 
— JACK'S  NEW  FRIEND THE  EMPRESS. 

HANDSOME  Jack  Manson  was  aroused  from  the 
happy  visions  of  his  first  night  in  New  York  by  a 
vigorous  onslaught  on  the  panels  of  his  door  and  the 
ringing  voice  of  the  Texan.  Rubbing  his  eyes,  he  was 
forced  to  gaze  on  Madison  Square  in  its  glory  of  late 
summer,  to  realize  that  Cheyenne  and  the  Black  Hills 
were  now  only  memories  of  a  stormy  past. 

"Thank  God!  Katie  is  not  a  'sweet  dream  of  a  sum- 
mer night.'  "  He  sprang  to  the  door  and  admitted 
Leavenworth,  whose  usual  reveille  was  the  mocking- 
birds' song  at  daybreak,  on  the  distant  Rio  Grande. 

"Jack,"  said  the  Texan  cheerfully,  "  if  we  can  meet 
at  luncheon,  let  us  drive  the  ladies  to  the  park  this 
afternoon.  Try  and  steal  a  few  days  from  your  affairs. 
I  will  shape  our  plans  by  yours." 

Manson  was  already  making  his  toilet  with  more 
raffine  solicitude  than  he  had  known  for  years. 

"  I  suppose  she  thinks  I  look  like  a  returned  miner 
or  a  waif  of  the  prairie,"  he  thought. 

A  singular  interest  in  his  personal  decoration  was 
born  of  his  desire  to  shine  under  the  speaking  glances 
of  the  dark-blue  eyes  which  had  haunted  his  pillow. 

In  his  heart  of  hearts,  Jack  felt  another  man  born 
within  him,  and  fancied  that  beyond  the  nearest  mile- 
stones of  his  life,  the  goddess  of  a  day's  love  beckoned 
him  to  her  side. 

As  the  bells  struck  nine,  the  doors  of  Mark  Manson's 
home  swung  open  to  receive  the  young  engineer. 

"Very  good,  my  boy! "  said  the  host,  as  he  cordially 
greeted  his  visitor.  "  I  like  promptness."  The  finan- 


32  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

cier  was  already  equipped  for  the  labors  of  the  day,  and 
a  huge  pile  of  journals,  and  dozens  of  opened  letters 
proved  his  use  of  the  morning  hours.  Ringing  a  bell, 
he  curtly  said :  "  Take  all  these  to  Mr.  Walton.  I  will 
give  him  briefs  of  the  answers  before  I  go  down  town. 
Let  no  one  disturb  us.  Now,  Jack,  to  breakfast." 

Seated  at  the  well-ordered  table,  Mark  Manson  was 
the  typical  energetic  human  fly-wheel  of  a  score  of  great 
enterprises. 

In  twenty  minutes  the  old  man  drew  back  his  chair 
and  lit  a  cigar. 

"  Now,  my  lad,"  he  began,  as  he  gazed  approvingly 
at  the  fresh,  manly  face  of  his  bright-eyed  nephew,  "  I 
am  going  to  repose  a  great  trust  in  you.  I  am  going 
to  send  you  down  to  the  Rio  Grande  to  represent  me 
with  full  power.  I  wish  you  to  cultivate  young  Leav- 
enworth,  and  find  out  all  you  can  about  that  border 
country.  Some  years  ago  I  bought  an  interest  in 
several  large  ranches  west  of  the  Nueces.  Senator 
Steele  has  an  interest,  Si  Leavenworth,  this  boy's 
father,  has  another,  and — one  other  person,"  he  said 
cautiously. 

Jack  Manson  could  hardly  restrain  the  wild  exultation 
of  his  lover's  heart.  This  road  of  the  future  led  him 
onward  to  the  newly  crowned  divinity.  Mark 
resumed,  gazing  at  the  smoke  wreaths  floating  around 
him: 

"  There  are  other  interests  of  which  you  will  learn 
later.  This  election  is  all  important  to  us.  A  great  secret 
movement  is  contemplated.  It  all  depends  on  the  voice 
of  the  people  at  the  November  election.  I  do  not 
share  all  the  hopes  of  my  associates,  but  I  have  an 
enormous  sum  of  money  at  stake.  I  can  not  go  there; 
you  must  represent  me.  I  will  be  frank  with  you; 
Steele  is  a  *  carpet-bag'  senator  (you  know  his  State), 


FOR   LIFE    AND   LOVE.  33 

and  I  have  found  him  deceitful  and  dangerous.  He 
does  not  know  that  I  distrust  him.  He  is  a  smooth 
scoundrel  and,  unfortunately,  is  the  necessary  medium 
of  communication  with  our  fourth  partner,  who  must 
be  nameless  for  grave  reasons.  I  wish  you  to  watch 
him  like  a  lynx  till  I  order  you  down  to  the  Rio  Grande. 
I  will  give  you  a  letter  to  him.  Be  very  circumspect. 
You  shall  have  my  whole  confidence,  but  only  after  I 
come  to  Washington.  He  must  think  that  you  go  down 
merely  to  look  at  the  lands.  Leavenworth's  acquaint- 
ance is  a  godsend  to  us.  You  can  visit  the  Rancho  San 
Miguel  and,  later,  make  a  tour  from  El  Paso  to  Point 
Isabel.  That  will  post  you  thoroughly." 

"As  for  old  Si  Leavenworth,  he  is  indeed  a  strange 
character.  He  went  to  Texas  in  1846  as  a  camp  follower 
of  General  Taylor  and  a  deck-hand.  He  is  cool,  sly, 
desperate,  suspicious  in  business,  and  yet  hospitable  and 
liberal.  He  has  dozens  of  active  schemes  in  which  I 
am  not  interested.  I  think,  however,  that  Senator 
Steele  is.  Old  Si  uses  Steele  to  handle  his  relations 
with  the  Government,  as  he  was  a  noted  Confederate. 
Strange  man  Si.  His  tough  old  body  is  scarred  with 
bullet  and  knife  wounds,  and  he  is  as  fearless  as  a 
Sioux  brave.  His  education  is  that  of  hard  experience, 
and  he  is  a  very  Machiavelli  in  cunning.  He  has  the 
ablest  advisers,  and  has  gathered  around  him,  from  the 
Nueces  to  the  Rio  Grande,  some  remarkable  adventur- 
ers. You  will  need  all  your  prudence  down  there. 
His  wife  is  an  educated  woman  of  exemplary  character, 
a  clergyman's  daughter.  What's  the  boy  like?"  said 
the  financier,  ending  abruptly. 

"Jimmy  is  twenty-five.  He  was  a  keen,  bright 
student  at  the  Polytechnic.  His  father  wished  him 
practically  educated.  He  is  tall,  wiry,  with  a  cold 
gray  eye,  thin  featured,  and  the  straight  Southern  hair. 


34  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

A  splendid  athlete  and  rider,  good  tempered,  the  soul 
of  honor,  and  neither  wild  nor  foolish,"  replied  Jack. 
"  He  will  be  a  couple  of  months  settling  some  mail 
contracts  and  business  for  his  father  at  Washington." 

"  Excellent! "  said  Mark  Manson  decisively.  "  That 
clears  all  up.  Now,  I've  got  to  go  down  town.  You 
can  tell  young  Leavenworth  now  that  you  are  going 
down  to  look  at  my  lands.  They  are  all  undivided.  He 
naturally  will  ask  you  to  visit  San  Miguel.  Conform 
to  his  movements.  You  must  stay  here  with  him  and 
take  it  easy.  Come  over  and  dine  with  me  every  other 
evening.  I  will  give  you  a  check  book  and  carte 
blanche  on  this  matter.  I'll  have  Walton  give  you  my 
private  cipher.  Cultivate  Leavenworth  and  watch 
Steele.  We  are  thinking  of  a  railroad,  if  Si  Leaven- 
worth is  successful  at  Austin  with  the  franchise.  You 
can  stay  around  Washington  until  the  people  make  a 
President.  I  will  hear  from  Si  Leavenworth  through 
Steele,  and  give  you  your  final  orders  at  Washington. 
By  the  way,  do  not  write  me  from  Washington.  It  is 
too  risky.  Use  the  wire  and  my  cipher.  What  are 
the  young  girls  like? "  the  old  man  queried. 

Jack's  voice  was  strangely  cold  in  accent,  as  he  said, 
with  assumed  carelessness:  "Nice  girls,  well  bred, 
well  educated.  Vassar  College  graduates." 

The  old  man  nodded  and  rang  for  his  carriage. 
As  he  grasped  his  hat,  cane,  and  gloves,  he  said 
kindly :  "  Now,  boy,  amuse  yourself  a  little.  You 
may  run  up  to  the  old  home  if  you  wish;  I  have  bought 
it  for  you  and  placed  it  in  your  name.  There's  a 
farmer  living  there.  I  have  written  him  that  you  are 
here."  The  young  man  felt  a  choking  in  his  throat 
as  he  pressed  his  uncle's  hands. 

"It  is  only  right,  boy;  you  have  done  your  duty." 
Jack  Manson  gazed  after  the  departing  carriage,  as  the 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  35 

veteran  threw  himself  back,  murmuring:  "Fine 
fellow,  looks  like  poor  Helen!1'  And  over  the  old  man's' 
mind  floated  memories  of  the  far-away  days  when  he 
had  played  with  his  bright-eyed  sister  by  the  placid 
Mohawk.  While  he  scanned  his  morning  papers, 
swiftly  swinging  down  to  the  day's  battle  in  Wall 
Street,  Jack  Manson  sought  the  Fifth  Avenue  in 
secret  joy. 

The  Texan  was  in  waiting,  pacing  the  marbled-tiled 
hall,  the  rallying  place  of  a  generation  of  statesmen  and 
heroes.  Manson  sprang  forward  impulsively,  and  cried: 
"It's  all  right,  Jimmy !  I  am  going  down  to  the  Rio 
Grande  to  inspect  my  uncle's  lands  and  watch  his 
affairs  there.  " 

"Glorious!"  rejoined  his  friend.  "We  will  show 
you  the  prettiest  stretch  of  land  in  Texas.  And  you 
will  say  the  Nueces  Valley  is  the  garden-spot  of  the 
world.  Let  us  go  over  in  the  park  and  have  a  cigar. 
These  brick  walls  stifle  me,"  rejoined  Leavenworth. 
"  I  prefer  the  open  prairie,  and  the  canopy  of  Heaven 
for  a  spangled  bed  curtain !  " 

"By  the  way, Jack,"  said  the  Southerner,  "I  have 
secured  the  carriages.  Mrs.  Marshall  is  timid.  I  have 
a  landau  for  four,  but  I  ordered  a  rattling  double  team. 
You  can  drive  Katie." 

Manson  concealed  his  sudden  emotion,  and  was  emi- 
nently successful  in  his  ruse.  The  unconscious  careless- 
ness of  brotherhood  was  his  effective  protection. 

Seated  at  ease,  Manson  felt  impelled  to  probe  Mr. 
James  Leavenworth's  heart  a  little. 

"Miss  Marshall  is  a  charming  girl,"  he  casually 
remarked,  gazing  at  the  passing  throng. 

"She's  the  sweetest  woman  on  earth,"  cried  the 
enthusiastic  Texan,  whereat  Jack  inwardly  added  "save 
one,"  as  he  nodded  his  head  attentively. 


36  FOR    LIFE    AND    I.OVE. 

"  Why  don't  you  marry  her,  Jimmy,  and  settle 
down?"  Jack  slowly  said,  looking  him  fairly  in  the 
face. 

"I'll  tell  you,"  mournfully  replied  his  friend,  nursing 
his  cigar. 

"  Mrs.  Marshall  is  one  of  these  rare  Virginian 
women  whose  quiet  pride  is  measureless.  They  are  of 
the  very  finest  strain  of  the  old  blood.  Now,  Jack,  my 
father  is  a  self-made  man  of  the  humblest  antecedents. 
But  he  is  an  old  hero — a  wonderful  man.  Mrs.  Marshall 
has  never  met  him,  although  her  husband  was  father's 
lawyer  here,  before  the  wretched  war.  My  mother  is 
a  woman  of  early  education  and  refinement.  I  do  not 
wish  to  risk  a  refusal,  and  I  can  not  bear  to  lose  that 
darling  girl.  I  hope  she  can  come  down  to  San 
Miguel  and  learn  to  know  my  people.  But  the  border 
is  too  wild  yet.  The  Rio  Grande  frontier,  west  of  the 
Xueces,  is  filled  with  roving  scoundrels,  broken  down 
stragglers  of  the  two  armies,  deserters,  horse  thieves, 
and  Mexican  desperadoes.  We  have  a  strong  force  at 
San  Miguel,  but  travel  is  very  dangerous.  When  the 
situation  clears  a  little,  I  hope  to  have  Mrs.  Marshall 
and  Gertie  visit  us.  I  feel  more  at  home  on  my  own 
chosen  ground,"  said  the  young  prince  of  the  frontier. 

"All  will  come  around  in  the  right  way,"  said  Jack, 
reassuringly,  as  he  thought  selfishly  of  Katie. 

"  Your  sisters  should  be  a  great  help  in  this  delicate 
matter,"  he  concluded. 

"Alice  might  be!  "  dolefully  replied  the  lover.  "As 
for  Katie,  she  is  a  witch  of  delightful  mischief.  She 
already  enjoys  my  suffering.  She  is  a  born  flirt  and 
coquette." 

"  That  is  a  nice  prospect,"  groaned  Manson,  with  a 
sinking  of  the  heart. 

The  two  friends  sauntered  over  to  the  hotel.    Manson 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  37 

critically  examined  the  charming  countenance  of  the 
blue-eyed  witch  at  their  merry  luncheon,  and  was  forced 
to  admit  in  his  heart  of  hearts,  that  the  divinity  was  of 
a  singularly  variable  disposition.  Late  in  the  afternoon, 
as  Jack  turned  the  horses'  heads  homeward,  and  under 
the  trembling,  leafy  arches  of  the  unrivalled  Central 
Park  gazed  on  his  enchantress,  he  decided  to  lock  his 
ardent  feelings  in  the  breast  of  a  Stoic.  For,  even  on 
their  arrival  at  the  hotel,  her  only  response  to  a  cautious 
announcement  of  his  Texan  journey,  was  a  careless 
rejoinder,  "  I  suppose  you  will  come  some  time  to  San 
Miguel — to  see  Brother  Jimmy." 

Not  a  single  word  on  her  own  account.  Manson 
vowed  in  his  heart  of  hearts  that  the  merry  heiress 
herself  should  ask  him  before  he  set  foot  on  the  baro- 
nial domain! 

Pleasant  days  sped  by,  leaving  the  engineer  in  a 
bewildering  day-dream. 

"  It  is  a  chase  of  the  fleeting  rainbow,"  Manson 
groaned.  "  That  girl  has  no  heart."  It  was  undeni- 
able that  handsome  Jack  was  en  rapport  with  stately 
Mrs.  Marshall,  the  Greek-browed  Gertrude,  and  was 
daily  knitted  closer  to  St.  Cecilia  Alice.  He  did  not 
dare  to  dream  of  Katie's  defensive  tactics  as  only  a 
"  sweet  piece  of  bashful  maiden  art." 

With  solemn  courtesy  Mark  Manson  had  visited  the 
ladies,  welcomed  the  young  ranchero,  and  opened  his 
mansion  for  a  ceremonious  feast  in  honor  of  the 
impending  departure. 

Possessed  of  his  final  instructions,  the  cipher,  and 
fully  advised  as  to  his  relations  with  Senator  Steele, 
Mr.  John  Manson  was  happy  to  escape  his  keen-eyed 
uncle's  watchful  glances,  as  the  train  drew  out  for 
Washington. 

"  I  will  see  you  in  ten  days,"  was  Mark's  good-bye. 


38  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  Make  friends  with  these  people,  they  will  be  useful 
later."  Manson's  effort  at  cultivating  the  flowers  of 
"friendship"  with  the  blue-eyed  divinity  ended  in  a 
profound  gloom,  arising  from  a  sudden  determination 
to  lock  his  secret  in  his  breast  and  suffer  silently.  His 
manly  pride  was  piqued. 

"  I  will  not  let  her  see  my  agonies,  at  any  rate,"  he 
decided,  with  wild  ideas  of  revenge. 

As  the  great  dome  of  the  Capitol  rose  before  them, 
Jack,  with  calm  courtesy,  bade  his  friends  adieu.  "  I 
must  leave  you  here.  My  business  will  detain  me  for 
some  time  in  Washington."  Leavenworth,  Miss  Alice, 
the  gentle  Gertrude,  and  even  Mrs.  Marshall,  protested. 
The  Virginian  matron,  with  a  cordial  smile,  earnestly 
bade  him  a  prospective  welcome  to  Fairfax  Court 
House.  The  only  silent  member  of  the  coterie  was  the 
dainty  Katie,  who  was  diligently  studying  external 
objects  from  the  window. 

As  the  train  halted,  Manson  skillfully  possessed  him- 
self of  the  blue-eyed  queen's  small  belongings,  and 
trudged  along  to  the  carriage  with  the  demeanor  of  a 
Trappist.  Miss  Mischief  never  lifted  her  eyes!  Manson 
could  feel  his  heart  beat  in  indignation. 

"Absolutely  without  feeling,"  he  growled,  and  it  was 
in  no  pleasant  mood  that  he  arranged  the  small  articles 
in  the  carriage,  already  tenanted  by  the  others.  With 
a  stiff  bow,  Mr.  Jack  Manson  said  good-bye  to  the 
undaunted  coquette,  who  lingered  a  moment  ere  she 
entered  the  landau. 

A  glance  of  merry  amazement  kindled  the  sapphire 
depths  of  the  wonderful  eyes.  Miss  Leavenworth 
offered  a  slender  gloved  hand.  "You  will  come  to  Fair- 
fax and  see  Jimmie,"  she  whispered,  with  a  frightened 
glance.  She  feared  that  her  coldness  had  been  only 
too  effective! 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  39 

"  I  will  meet  your  brother  here  later,  on  business," 
rejoined  the  desperate  lover,  whose  heart  was  anxiously 
tugging  at  its  strings.  "  Then  come  and  see  me!"  the 
wicked  maiden  faltered,  with  one  sweep  of  the  silken 
lashes. 

Before  the  astounded  Jack  could  find  words,  the 
Rose  of  Texas  lightly  sprang  into  the  carriage,  and  ten 
yards  away  waved  a  merry  farewell  with  a  filmy 
kerchief. 

"  That  young  girl  needs  discipline,"  muttered  Jack, 
as  he  stood  rooted  to  the  spot,  with  the  insidious  invi- 
tation ringing  in  his  ears. 

Yet  his  heart  was  very  light  as  he  bestowed  himself 
in  a  pleasant  suite  of  rooms  at  the  Ebbitt  House. 
"  Chateau  qui  parle,  se  rend  toujours"  is  an  old  proverb, 
and  Mr.  Manson  decided  upon  a  regular  siege  by 
gradual  approach.  "If  I  betray  my  feelings,  this 
damsel  will  take  all  the  advantages  of  my  thoughtless- 
ness. *  La  belle  dame  sans  merci.'" 

With  serious  mien  Manson  entered  the  parlors  of 
Senator  Steele,  next  day,  at  the  Arlington. 

The  great  man  welcomed  him  with  effusive  cordiality. 
Senator  Steele  bore  easily  his  fifty-five  years.  Smooth, 
cool,  adroit,  and  with  a  furtive  expression  of  his  round 
light-blue  eyes,  calmly  caressing  his  flowing  beard  with 
a  bediamonded  hand,  his  well-kept  figure  and  general 
air  of  ease  bespoke  the  prosperous  politician. 

"Just  a  little  too  smooth,"  thought  Jack,  mindful  of 
Mark  Manson's  caution. 

"  I  am  somewhat  busied  with  this  exciting  campaign, 
my  dear  sir,"  began  Steele,  with  a  wave  of  his  pudgy 
hand,  "  but  I  will  be  happy  to  be  of  service  to  you.  I 
have  heard  from  your  uncle  and,  as  you  have  leisure, 
will  go  through  the  Texan  situation  in  a  day  or  so.  I 
unfortunately  have  business  of  importance  this  after- 


40  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

noon,  but  will  give  you  all  the  time  I  can."  Manson 
bowed  in  acknowledgment.  A  half-hours'  conversa- 
tion informed  the  senator  of  Manson's  history..  The 
statesman  was  awakened  by  the  mention  of  Jimmy 
Leavenworth's  name. 

"  Rising  man,  sir.  Has  marked  ability.  We  hope 
to  see  him  soon  in  Congress.  Alas!  Western  Texas  is 
hopelessly  democratic.  I  shall  do  my  best  to  enter- 
tain the  party  on  their  arrival." 

Further  flourish  on  the  part  of  the  smooth  statesman 
(who  was  secretly  studying  the  young  man's  face)  was 
cut  short  by  a  card  sent  in. 

"Ah!  Very  timely.  Show  the  gentleman  in.  I 
wish  to  present  you  to  an  intimate  friend.  You  may 
meet  him  on  the  Rio  Grande.  He  is  a  man  of  note  in 
Mexico,  though  American  born."  When  the  visitor 
entered,  Senator  Steele  greeted  the  new-comer  with 
friendly  familiarity. 

"Mr.  Manson  of  New  York,  my  friend,  Mr.  Ramon 
Maxan  of  Hacienda  Maxan." 

The  two  young  men  greeted  each  other.  Ramon 
Maxan  was  evidently  at  home. 

Manson,  accepting  a  cigar,  studied  the  new-comer. 
Of  elegant  mien,  gracefully  and  powerfully  built, 
Ramon  Maxan's  olive  cheek,  restless,  brilliant  black 
eye,  dark  hair,  and  drooping  jet-black  mustache,  as  well 
as  his  soft,  semi-foreign  intonation,  betrayed  the  Louisi- 
ana Creole.  Carefully  dressed,  and  of  cosmopolitan 
manners,  he  was  versatile  and  most  winning  in  address. 

Half  an  hour  later  the  young  men  left  the  senatorial 
sanctum  together.  Their  host,  in  parting,  said  heartily: 
"  Ramon,  you  must  show  the  local  lions  to  my  young 
friend.  It  is  his  first  visit  to  Washington.  By  the 
way,  take  him  to  call  on  Mrs.  Smiley.  I  am  to  dine 
there  to-morrow  night.  Mrs.  Smiley  would  be  happy, 


FOR   LIFE    AND    LOVE.  4! 

I  am  sure,  to  have  Mr.  Manson  join  us.  I  could  then 
uave  a  quiet  chat  with  him."  A  meaning  glance 
scintillated  in  the  pale  fishy-blue  eye  of  the  "  carpet- 
bagger." 

Just  a  tremble  of  Maxan's  long  black  lashes  indicated 
his  response,  for  he  cheerily  said:  "  Certai.nly.  And  I 
claim  Mr.  Manson  for  a  dinner  this  evening  at  the 
Club.  As  he  is  going  to  be  a  Texan,  I  can  post  him  a 
little." 

Manson  accepted  the  proffered  courtesy  and  left  the 
smoothly  smiling  senator  beaming  at  his  open  door. 

"  Let  me  see,"  said  Maxan,  consulting  his  watch, 
"It's  now  three,  Mr.  Manson.  I  will  call  at  your  hotel 
at  half-past  four  and  we  will  drive  out  and  also  pay  our 
respects  to  Mrs.  Smiley,  a  charming  hostess." 

Jack  acknowledged  the  courtesy  and  betook  himself 
to  an  hour's  correspondence.  He  would  have  been  sur- 
prised to  have  seen  Ramon  Maxan  swiftly  retrace  his 
steps  to  the  Arlington. 

"  What's  that  d d  fool  coming  bothering  here 

for?"  said  the  Creole,  as  he  smartly  closed  the  door  of 
Senator  Steele's  room.  The  old  fox  was  expecting 
his  return.  Maxan  threw  himself  in  a  chair,  after 
liberally  patronizing  the  cognac  flask,  on  the  richly 
spread  sideboard,  and  critically  choosing  a  fresh  cigar. 

"I  don't  know,  Ramon,"  said  the  senator,  now  alert 
and  with  none  of  his  official  soapy  manner.  "He  is  old 
Manson's  only  relative  and  heir.  I  am  afraid  of  that 
old  skinflint.  He  will  be  down  here  in  ten  days.  Now 
he  must  not  stumble  on  our  outside  operations !  Mark 
Manson  does  not  know  what  the  Rio  Grande  Company 
really  is.  He  went  in  on  old  Si  Leavenworth's  advice. 
If  this  fellow  has  any  brains  we  can't  hoodwink  him 
long  if  he  stays  on  the  Rio  Grande.  We  need  old 
Manson  to  place  those  railroad  bonds  in  New  York 


42  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

when  we  get  the  franchise.  You  must  cling  closely  to 
this  fellow.  He's  been  on  the  plains.  Let  the  Smiley 
make  a  running  on  him,  and  when  these  young  Leaven- 
worth  people  come  over,  you  must  cultivate  the  whole 
party.  Mrs.  Smiley  can  watch  the  girls  and  you  can 
keep  an  eye  on  Leavenworth  and  Manson.  They 
were  college  classmates.  Now  give  'the  Empress' 
the  tip  this  afternoon." 

"All  right!"  snakily  said  Maxan.  "  If  this  green- 
horn should  be  plastered  on  the  road  as  an  official,  it 
might  stop  our  private  use  of  the  '  bonded  goods 
privilege'!"  A  dark  wicked  look  glittered  in  his  uneasy 
eye. 

"  I'll  put  him  out  of  the  way  down  there,  if  he  noses 
into  our  secrets,"  the  Creole  fiercely  cried. 

"  Yes.  That's  so.  Everything  goes  on  the  Rio 
Grande,"  said  Steele,  with  a  vicious  leer,  "  but  only  at 
the  last.  Old  Mark  would  raise  an  awful  row." 

"  Row  or  no  row,  he's  a  dead  man  if  he  fools  with 
our  inside  matters,"  the  Creole  cried.  «  I  half  suspect 
the  old  man  of  setting  him  on  us  as  a  spy.  Well,  I'm 
off.  I'll  post  Milly  Smiley  about  him.  She'll  keep  an 
elastic  string  on  him." 

Maxan  seized  hat  and  cane  and  darted  away  to  bring 
up  his  horses.  Honest  Jack  Manson  was  all  unconscious 
of  the  webs  ready  to  entangle  a  buzzing  stranger  fly. 

In  friendly  discourse  the  young  men  rolled  over  the 
noiseless  pavements  of  the  great  centre  of  national  cor- 
ruption. The  broad  avenues  were  already  lined  with 
the  ambitious  home  palaces  of  those  whom  the  war  had 
enriched.  Washington  was  already  seething  in  the 
preliminary  excitement  of  a  "boom." 

With  the  easy  familiarity  of  an  old  "habitue,"  Maxan 
pointed  out  to  Manson  the  remarkable  features  in  still 
life  and  the  street  throngs. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  43 

"  You  are  almost  to  the  manner  born,"  said  Jack, 
admiring  the  splendid  team  of  bays  and  Maxan's  mag- 
nificent skill  in  driving,  as  well  as  his  thorough  local 
knowledge. 

"  Hardly.  Yet  Washington  is  a  second  home  to 
me,"  rejoined  the  Creole.  "  My  father  was  one  of 
General  Taylor's  officers  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  at 
the  close  of  the  war  married  my  mother,  a  descendant 
of  the  old  Conquistadores.  So,  though  my  father  was 
a  New  Orleans  man,  I  am,  by  reason  of  my  birth  and 
Mexican  estates,  practically  a  Mexican.  I  was  educated 
in  Paris,  and  I  am  a  melange  of  Frenchman,  Southerner 
and  Mexican.  I  am  equally  at  home  in  the  three  coun- 
tries, and  their  languages  are  all  born  in  me.  Here  I 
have  spent  half  my  time,  for  in  the  throes  of  Mexican 
revolution,  Senor  Romero,  our  able  Minister,  has  been 
my  best  friend  and  adviser.  He  was  a  friend  of  my 
father's  youth.  Yet  I  prefer  the  vales  and  fastnesses  of 
the  '  Zona  Libre.'  The  high  ground  is  the  garden  of 
the  world.  I  yearn  to  return.  Business  will  detain 
me  until  Congress  meets  here,  I  am  sorry  to  say." 

"What  is  the  Zona  Libre?"  asked  Manson,  with 
interest. 

"  The  three  states  of  Nueva  Leon,  Tamaulipas,  and 
Coaguila,  lying  on  the  '  Rio  Bravo,'  or  '  Rio  Grande 
del  Norte,'  as  you  call  it,  are  exempted  from  all  cus- 
toms duties,  and  goods  in  bond  from  the  United  States 
or  Europe  are  freely  distributed  there  to  be  used  in 
these  three  Mexican  frontier  states  alone.  There  is  an 
enormous  import  trade  from  the  United  States  and 
Europe." 

"  What  is  the  object  of  this  exemption  from  your 
heavy  duties? "  asked  Jack.  "  I  have  understood  Mex- 
ican customs  laws  are  onerous  and  marvels  of  red 
tape." 


44  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  The  real  object,  my  dear  sir,"  said  the  fluent 
Creole,  "  is  to  make  it  advantageous  for  our  people  to 
settle  these  three  open  states  thickly,  and  thus  form  a 
barrier  to  American  aggression." 

"  There  is  no  immediate  danger  of  that,"  Manson 
remarked. 

"  Wait  and  see,"  replied  Maxan.  "  General  Grant 
will  be  triumphantly  re-elected.  He  may  draw  his  all- 
conquering  sword  again.  No  one  can  tell  what  military 
ambition  may  do.  Mexico  will  fight  though  to  the 
last  man!  We  quarrel  among  ourselves,  but  our  motto 
is,  'Muerte  a  los  estrangeros." 

"  Is  this  Zona  Libre  not  a  demoralizing  feature  ?  " 
Manson  said,  after  a  pause. 

"  Certainly,"  said  Maxan,  flicking  a  bee  off  his  pet 
horse's  back  with  a  neat  cut  of  the  whip.  "  Every 
man,  woman,  and  intelligent  child  in  the  Zona  is  a 
smuggler.  The  land  swarms  with  desperadoes. 
Besides,  the  officials  are  corrupt,  and  the  export  tax  of 
eight  per  cent  on  Mexican  silver  dollars  is  avoided  by 
smuggling  them  out.  They  are  now  at  a  premium  for 
the  Chinese  and  Japanese  trade.  Moreover,  Bagdad,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande,  was  the  port  of  recep- 
tion of  fifty  million  dollars'  worth  of  Confederate 
supplies  and  the  great  shipping  point  of  rebel  cotton 
for  Bermuda  and  Havana." 

"  Did  not  our  fleet  stop  these  blockade  runners?"  said 
Manson,  naturally. 

"  My  dear  friend,"  the  Creole  smilingly  replied,  "  I 
have  seen  piles  of  Yankee  stores,  a  half  mile  long, 
lying  there  marked  <Q.  M.  D.'  and  'A.  C.  S.,  New 
Orleans,'  which  were  exchanged  by  Yankee  command- 
ers for  our  good  cotton  at  Bagdad.  Money  made 
strange  friends  in  the  great  war." 

Manson  was  astounded  as  Maxan  continued  •  "  The 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  45 

unwritten  history  of  the  secret  relations  of  some 
Union  and  Southern  commanders  and  officials  would 
tear  some  national  reputations  to  tatters,  if  exposed. 
Great  'loyal' merchants  in  New  York,  Boston,  and 
Philadelphia  slyly  aided  this  nefarious  traffic,  and  they 
were,  in  some  things,  our  surest  agents  of  supply. 
Naturally,  my  sympathies  were  with  secession.  Now, 
not  to  weary  you,  both  sides  of  the  Rio  Grande  are 
thronged  with  outcast  fugitives  from  both  the  great 
armies,  negro  deserters,  criminals,  and  the  riff-raff  of 
the  world.  These  people  would  welcome  any  conflict 
between  the  nations.  The  proud,  dissatisfied  South- 
ern veterans  would  pour  into  Mexico  at  the  first  slight 
cause." 

"  But  enough  of  the  Rio  Grande.  If  you  stay  here  a 
couple  of  months  you  will  see  what  Washington  life 
really  is.  Already  the  harpies  gather.  The  taint  of 
the  war  lingers.  Fifty  thousand  idle  negroes  float 
around  the  suburbs.  The  old  residents  are  poor,  or 
proudly  reticent  if  high  in  society.  A  wild  horde  of 
office-seekers,  schemers,  reckless  military  men,  lobby- 
ists of  both  sexes,  claim  agents,  politicians,  and  sharpers 
will  throng  the  town  the  moment  General  Grant's 
election  is  assured.  Disgraced  officials,  sly  go-be- 
tweens, and  swarms  of  the  volunteer  officers,  anxious 
for  place,  will  wear  out  the  very  paving  stones  here. 
The  President's  receptions  will  be  human  menageries, 
and  the  society  houses  open  will  be  besieged  by  well- 
dressed  adventurers,  men  and  women,  who  will  not  be 
put  down,  and  who  can't  be  put  out.  'Fox  and  Geese' 
will  be  the  national  game  played  here  for  the  next  four 
years."  He  paused. 

"Can  not  the  President  stem  the  tide?  "Jack  ques- 
tioned. "He  is  strong-minded." 

*'J  fear  not;"  Maxan  answered.     "General  Grant  is 


46  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

a  man  of  the  people.  He  is  singularly  loyal  to  old 
friends.  Though  taciturn,  he  is  very  approachable,  and 
the  pressure  on  him  will  be  tremendous.  He  is  a  pillar 
of  unsuspecting  honesty.  He  will  be  only  a  human 
buffer  between  this  crowd  of  pirates  and  the  treasury 
door.  The  schemes  'are  not  all  in  vulgar  hands.  Great 
names  lurk  behind  many  of  these  insidious  movements. 
It's  the  wildest  hurly-burly  on  earth  to-day,  and  Wash- 
ington will  be  the  luxury-loving  Vanity  Fair  of  the 
world  for  four  years.  These  people  do  not  merely 
arrive.  They  will  storm  the  city.  But,  here  we  are, 
at  Mrs.  Smiiey's." 

"  Who  is  Mrs.  Smiley?  "  asked  Manson,  with  a  cor- 
dial interest. 

"Ah!  Now  we  have  a  congenial  topic,"  smiled 
Maxan.  "  Mrs.  Milly  Smiley  is  the  handsomest 
woman  in  Washington.  Born  a  Southerner,  to  her 
beauty,  she  adds  every  accomplishment.  Her  first  hus- 
band, a  gallant  Confederate  officer,  was  killed  in  the  war. 
He  never  returned.  She  was  left  a  mere  girl  widow. 
She  ran  the  blockade  to  avoid  the  social  situation  at 
New  Orleans,  and  after  several  years  abroad  married 
an  enormously  wealthy  American  named  Smiley,  who 
died,  leaving  her  his  immense  wealth.  Her  talents 
have  been  heightened  by  the  years  of  foreign  travel 
and  her  home  is  the  rallying  spot,  the  social  oasis  in  this 
desert,  for  the  diplomat,  the  cultured,  and  the  cosmo- 
politan." 

Maxan  was  moving  his  horses  easily  around  the 
square. 

"  She  is  an  intimate  friend  of  Senator  Steele?"  in- 
quired Manson  thoughtfully. 

Maxan  started  and  gave  the  horses  a  cut.  "  Did  he 
say  so?"  the  Creole  sharply  said. 

"  Oh !  Not  specially.     I   only  thought  he  spoke  of 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  47 

her  with  some  enthusiasm,"  remarked  Manson  with  a 
slight  astonishment  at  Maxan's  manner. 

"Ah!  Yes.  I  see,"  slowly  said  the  Creole.  "The 
fact  is,"  and  he  lowered  his  voice  confidently,  "  her 
house  is  one  of  the  few  here  where  a  dignitary  can  visit 
or  dine  without  his  words  being  repeated,  or  politics 
being  served  up  with  the  soup.  Steele  is  a  widower 
and  very  cautious.  He  is  at  home  here."  And  Maxan 
lightly  sprang  from  the  carriage. 

Jack  Manson's  brain  was  teeming  with  the  flood  of 
information  poured  into  his  ears.  He  mechanically 
followed  his  new  friend  into  a  magnificent  hall,  and 
entered  a  drawing-room  replete  with  the  garnered 
gems  of  art,  taste,  and  the  spoils  of  foreign  travel.  An 
air  of  decorous  respectability  hovered  over  all,  from 
the  stately  old  colored  butler,  a  relic  of  slavery  days,  to 
the  neat-handed  maids  flitting  noiselessly  about. 

"  Miss  Smiley  will  receive  the  gentlemen  very  soon," 
announced  the  major-domo,  with  profound  African 
salaams.  A  curious  feeling  pervaded  Manson's  mind 
as  he  gazed  upon  this  dream  of  luxury.  Conscious 
that  his  voluble  friend  was  watching  him,  his  thoughts 
flew  away  to  Arundel  House  at  Fairfax,  as  Gertie 
Marshall  had  described.  He  could  almost  see  the 
simple  grandeur  of  the  old  mansion  with  its  stately 
pillars,  its  smooth  lawns,  and  the  "  romance  of  the  old  " 
clinging  to  every  gray  oak  and  weather-beaten  landmark 
of  the  "great  days  of  the  Mother  of  Presidents."  His 
heart  pictured  the  blue-eyed  goddess  (the  refractory 
one)  tripping  over  the  fragrant  blossoms  of  the  "  sacred 
soil." 

Jack  Manson  had  no  gift  of  second  sight,  yet  there 
was  a  gorgeousness  (even  if  restrained  by  taste)  which 
jarred  upon  his  present  mood  in  this  newly  gilded  jewel- 
box,  velvet  tapestried  and  decked  with  costly  adorn- 


48  FOU    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

ments.  Little  did  he  dream  that  cabals  and  coteries  of 
desperate  men  often  assembled  quietly  in  this  sumptu- 
ous, quiet  retreat.  He  was  too  innocently  unsuspecting 
to  imagine  that  in  a  retired  salon,  statesmen  and  money 
lords  wooed  the  goddess  fortune  over  the  painted  cards, 
that  thousands  changed  hands  nightly  "  in  the  season," 
and  that  dark  schemes  were  perfected,  reputations 
smirched,  votes  bought  and  sold,  and  the  devil's  work 
silently  and  expeditiously  dispatched,  here  under  the  roof 
of  the  imperious  beaut}'-  of  the  hour. 

Not  being  a  prophet,  Manson  could  not  dream  that 
Mildred  Smiley  was  the  enchanting  Egeria  of  that  serv- 
ant of  the  people,  a  modern  Numa,  Senator  Steele! 

Before  Jack's  eyes  had  catalogued  half  the  prominent 
features  of  the  splendid  retreat,  Mrs.  Milly  Smiley 
silently  glided  into  the  room. 

Ramon  Maxan  was  instantly  on  his  feet,  and  on  greet- 
ing the  peerless  woman  who  was  now  the  living 
accentuation  of  the  pervading  idea  of  the  beautiful, 
presented  Mr.  John  Manson  of  New  York. 

Jack,  in  bewilderment,  bent  over  a  blue-veined  hand 
sparkling  with  nonpareil  treasures  of  India's  mines. 

"  You  are  welcome,sir,  as  Mr.  Maxan's  friend,  and — 
for  yourself,"  said  the  regal  hostess.  Her  rich  voice, 
with  a  thrilling  undertone,  moved  Manson  like  the 
wind  harps  of  the  forest.  In  five  minutes  Jack  Manson 
was  within  "the  danger  line".  As  Mrs.  Milly  Smiley 
gazed  frankly  at  the  neophyte  in  Washington  society, 
his  eyes  fell.  He  was  only  conscious  of  an  imperial 
presence.  Reclining  in  an  easy  chair,  attired  in  a 
masterpiece  of  the  Worth  and  Pingat  school,  the 
attitude  of  this  modern  Venus  was  seductive,  enticing, 
inevitable.  The  exquisite  curves  of  her  faultless  form, 
the  nameless  grace  of  each  pose,  were  accentuated  by 
the  wonderful  loveliness  of  her  face 5  liquid,  dark,  soft 


FOR   LIFE   AXD   LOVE.  49 

shining  eyes,  and  the  nobly  poised  head  crowned  with 
lustrous  masses  of  silken  hair,  black  as  a  raven's  wing, 
betokened  a  Southern  queen  of  the  realm  of  beauty. 
"  The  most  perfect  brunette  I  ever  saw,"  thought  Jack, 
as  he  drew  his  breath. 

When  Ramon  Maxan  gracefully  delivered  the  mes- 
sage of  Senator  Steele,  the  hostess  bent  her  wistful,  tender 
eyes,  with  an  unconscious  fervor,  on  the  impressionable 
Manson. 

"  This  is  a  double  reason  why  I  shall  claim  you  as  my 
guest.  Senator  Steele's  name  is  an  '  open  sesame'  to 
my  house." 

When  the  young  gentlemen  rose  to  terminate  the 
"visite  de  ceremonie,"  Jack  Manson  could  not  help 
turning  his  head  to  gaze  upon  the  living  marvel  once 
more. 

Standing,  with  a  few  roses  in  her  hand,  carelessly 
caught  up  from  a  Sevres  vase,  Milly  Smiley  was  an  un- 
speakably magnificent  ideal  of  the  dark  beauty  of  the 
Magnolia  Land. 

Manson  was  thoughtful  and  silent  as  his  versatile 
Mentor  drove  to  the  Club.  He  replied  briefly  to 
Maxan's  comments  upon  the  lovely  woman  they  had 
left.  Her  siren  charms  at  once  dazzled  and  oppressed 
him. 

Ramon  Maxan  was  a  charming  host,  a  modern 
Brillat  Savarin.  The  open-hearted  young  engineer 
lost  all  reserve,  and  before  the  coffee  and  cigars,  the 
Creole  was  possessed  of  the  entire  social  plans  of  the 
circle  at  Fairfax  Court  House. 

"  I  should  be  delighted  to  meet  Mr.  Leavenworth 
and  the  ladies,"  Maxan  politely  said.  "  I  know  of  Si 
Leavenworth,  whose  name  is  a  watchword  from  St. 
Louis  to  the  City  of  Mexico,  but  I  have  never  met  him 
personally.  His  son,  I  think,  I  met  casually  at  the 


50  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Crescent  Club  in  New  Orleans,  several  years  ago,  but 
he  would  perhaps  not  recall  it.  He  is  a  rising-  man, 
by  common  report." 

Jack  Manson  was  far  along  on  the  highway  of 
friendship  when  the  parting  hour  came. 

'•'  Till  to-morrow,"  said  the  Creole,  laughing  a  good- 
night. "Don't  lose  your  heart  to  Mis.  Mildred  Smiley. 
She  is  an  untamable  falcon.  She  soars  high.  She  has 
even  refused  a  Cabinet  Minister." 

"  No  danger,"  replied  Jack,  good-humoredly.  "  I 
have  my  fortune  to  make." 

"  Nonsense,  Manson.  Your  uncle's  wealth  will  fall 
your  way,  surely,"  incautiously  said  the  Creole. 

Jack  eyed  him  curiously  and  muttered  the  old  proverb 
about  "dead  men's  shoes." 

Ramon  Maxan  was  gone,  leaving  Manson  con- 
fusedly murmuring,  "  He  seems  to  know  a  good  bit  of 
my  private  affairs." 

As  Jack  entered  his  apartment,  he  recalled  himself. 
"  Certainly,  Maxan  would  surely  hear  that  from 
Senator  Steele.  That  is  perfectly  natural." 

Still  oppressed  by  the  overpowering  tropical  beauty 
of  the  witch  of  night,  Manson  lit  a  cigar,  and  turning 
out  his  lights  gazed  at  the  stars  twinkling  down  on  the 
Mecca  of  his  hopes  at  Fairfax  Court  House.  Gertie's 
word  pictures  made  it  almost  familiar  ground. 

"  I  will  go  through  this  dinner,  confer  with  Senator 
Steele,  and  then  despatch  to  Uncle  Mark,  then,  then," 
he  said  with  determination,  "  I  will  run  over  to  Fairfax 
and  see  Jimmy."  Honest  Jack  closed  his  eyes  with- 
out acknowledging  that  two  gentle  deep-blue  eyes  were 
the  duplex  magnets  drawing  him  to  the  "  sacred  soil  of 
Virginia"  and  that  "Katie  "  should  have  been  substituted 
for  "Jimmy,"  in  that  expression  of  a  settled  purpose. 
Those  far-away  blue  eyes  closed  that  night  at  Fairfax 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE.  $t 

in  gentle  sleep,  as  the  fair  Texan  murmured:  "  It's  so 
quiet  here;  I  hope  Mr.  Jack  Manson  will  come  to  see 
Brother  Jim."  The  gentle  dissembler  dared  not  give 
expression  to  the  thought  and  wish  of  her  heart. 

Mr.  Ramon  Maxan,  pacing  the  silent  street,  said  to 
himself:  "I  will  get  into  this  friendly  circle.  The 
girls  are  said  to  be  lovely.  Rancho  San  Miguel  would 
be  a  safe  retreat  if  the  Rio  Grande  Company  gets  into 
trouble,  and  particularly  if  I  owned  a  third  of  it. 

"Yes,  decidedly  it's  a  good  scheme,"  said  the  Creole, 
as  he  contemplated  his  graceful  person  in  the  mirror  on 
retiring.  "  I  flatter  myself  I  can  walk  around  this 
Western  stranger.  But  I  must  have  Milly's  help.  By 
Jove!  I  don't  know  how  the  'Empress'  will  take  it. 
She's  a  tiger!  Nonsense!  Steele  has  her  in  his  power. 
He  must  stay  in  with  me.  If  they  build  this  road 
and  I  can  marry  one  of  these  Leavenworth  girls,  I  can 
be  the  King  of  the  Zona  Libre. 

"  I  must  cut  in  between  Manson  and  young  Leaven- 
worth.  It  must  be  done.  If  I  can  not,  a  machete  will 
do  the  work  while  this  tenderfoot  explores  the  me*sas 
and  thickets  of  the  Rio  Bravo. 

"By  heavens,  I  have  it!  Ximenes  is  down  there. 
I'll  put  Joaquin  on  his  track,  and  if  Mr.  Jack  Manson 
wont  move  out  for  me,  I  will  move  him  out!  Another 
frontier  tragedy." 

With  a  devilish  moctdng  smile  on  his  thin  fine  lips, 
Ramon  Maxan  closed  his  eyes  with  the  cheering  con- 
sciousness of  a  good  day's  work.  "  I'll  make  the 
'Empress'  keep  him  away  from  those  girls,"  was  the 
Creole's  last  thought  ere  he  slept. 


52  FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE. 


CHAPTER  III, 

THE  COURSE  OF  TRUE  LOVE — A  SNAKE  IN   THE    GRASS 
CREOLE  WILES — A  VIRGINIAN  HOME. 

JACK  MANSON  pondered  over  the  previous  days'  varied 
experiences,  as  he  leisurely  dressed,  and  sought  the  half- 
deserted  streets  next  morning  for  a  breath  of  fresh  air. 

Devoid  of  manufactures  and  any  real  "raison  d'etre" 
the  city  of  Washington  is  an  assemblage  of  ill-assorted 
human  abodes  clustering  around  the  various  strong- 
holds of  the  Federal  Government. 

Appropriately,  the  Capitol  is  the  central  point,  and 
clustered  around  the  Treasury  and  White  House  are 
the  lairs  of  the  hungry  army  besieging  the  mythical 
Uncle  Sam.  Great  hotels  fencing  in  the  White  House 
and  Treasury  are  the  outworks  of  these  besiegers; 
luxurious  mansions  mark  the  resting  place  of  the  suc- 
cessful; straggling  apartment  houses  afford  shelter  to 
the  temporary  reinforcements  of  the  besiegers,  and  the 
faded  rows  of  neglected  houses,  all  placarded  "Rooms 
to  Let,"  shelter  the  humbler  schemers. 

Georgetown  and  the  suburbs  are  crowded  with  the 
modest  domiciles  of  the  patient,  inert  body  of  men  and 
women  toiling  along  in  the  unambitious  lives  of  de- 
partment clerks.  Hurry  is  unknown.  All  that  is  local 
is  colorless,  faded,  dejected,  and  humdrum.  A  few  of 
the  old  families,  behind  their  seldom-opened  doors  in 
doleful  chorus,  mourn  the  fabulous  days  when  "Wash- 
ington society  was  select."  It  must  have  been  in  some 
prehistoric  age! 

All  the  local  life,  all  the  stir  and  dash  of  the  hour  is 
brought  in  by  the  eager,  ardent,  never-tiring  plotters, 
schemers,  "  agents,"  and  office-seekers,  who  "  move  in 
a  mysterious  way  their  wonders  to  perform."  The 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  53 

local  population  nave  simple  occupations.  The  rather 
shabby  men  haunt  the  hotels  in  eager  search  of  visitors  to 
be  plucked,  or  aided  "  for  a  consideration."  The  women 
wander,  in  the  season,  from  one  open  reception  to 
another,  neatly  making  vacuums  in  the  punch  bowls,  and 
furtively  descending  on  the  beaufet  refreshments  like 
veteran  crows  upon  a  field  of  tender  corn  sprouts. 

All  things  mundane  take  on  peculiar  characteristics 
in  Washington.  The  lazy,  chattering,  easy-going  negro 
servants,  the  antique  vehicles  of  hire,  the  peculiar  rem- 
nants of  all  classes  of  merchandise,  ill-assorted  and 
meager,  the  crowd*  of  Munchausen  union  veterans,  the 
circles  of  sad-eyed,  resentful  Confederates,  the  summer 
lethargy  from  April  to  November,  and  the  condensed 
local  excitement  from  early  winter  to  the  end  of 
March;  all  these  things  are  peculiar  to  the  capital  of 
our  beloved  country. 

Boarding  houses  (human  man-traps)  have  been  organ- 
ized upon  a  shadowy  commissary  system,  in  mute 
protest  against  substantial  creature  comforts.  The  dim 
crepuscular  lights  of  their  antique  "parlors"  hide  lurking, 
faded,  single  females  of  judiciously  varied  homeliness, 
but  full  of  haughty  pride.  In  these  spectral  institutions 
the  sombre-clad  "  landlady  "  receives  her  weekly  dole, 
with  a  mute  protest  against  the  disgrace  of  being  paid, 
in  the  faint  hope  that  the  idea  of  being  "  simply  enter- 
tained "  may  prevail!  The  foreign  diplomats,  from  the 
haughty  Briton  to  the  modest  Haytian,  mingle,  with  an 
air  of  distinct  superiority,  in  the  alleged  "  maddening 
whirl,"  and  numbers  of  superannuated  army  and  navy 
officers  haunt  the  clubs',  growl  at  their  insufficient  re- 
wards and  consume  vast  quantities  of  "strengthening 
beverages,"  while  the  cloud  of  younger  men  of  both 
services  jauntily  skip  in  the  mazes  of  the  German,  toil 
with  the  harmless  weapon  of  tennis,  report  at  dance, 


54  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

dinner,  and  tea-fight  with  military  promptness,  and 
occasionally  (by  a  wild  dash)  swoop  clown  on  the  un- 
wary and  carry  off  a  red-handed  Western  heiress  or 
some  lively  widow,  whose  golden  tokens  of  the  "  dear 
departed  "  may  gaily  furnish  forth  the  marriage  feast. 

Slightly  below  this  glittering  throng,  moving  before 
the  dais  of  "  high  society,"  the  ambitious  masculine 
clerk  apes  (when  unemployed)  the  "fin  de  siecle " 
swell,  and  the  pretty  pushing  feminine  employee,  keen- 
eyed  and  fun-loving,  cuts  out  her  prize  often  from 
under  the  social  guns  of  her  more  fortunate  sisters! 

Shifting,  ebbing,  moving  without  law  or  apparent 
cause,  from  year  to  year,  the  familiar  places  soon 
know  these  strangely  assorted  faces  no  more.  But 
a  general  air  of  Micawber-like  hopefulness  pervades 
the  unemployed. 

There  are  shadowy  legends  that,  by  waiting,  sundry 
tough-nerved  souls  have  "  dropped  into  something," 
not  the  Potomac!  The  star  of  hope  flickers  feebly, 
yet  it  always  flickers.  A  distinct  stratum  of  Wash- 
ington society  is  the  returned  Senator  and  Represent- 
ative. Alas!  Hotel  clerks  know  them  not;  their 
tables  are  no  longer  littered  with  invitations;  pretty 
faces  do  not  beam  meaningly  from  carriage  windows, 
and  they  are  no  longer  buttonholed  by  eager  sup- 
pliants, suggesting  a  "  private  room  and  a  cold  bottle." 

Furtively  darting  around  corners,  and  appearing 
mostly  at  nights,  are  the  guerrilla  classes — principally 
discharged  clerks,  ejected  office-holders,  broken  officers 
of  the  services,  and  the  omnipresent  man  with  a  claim 
for  "clams  furnished  the  blockading  fleet  at  Charles- 
ton" or  "shoe-strings  for  the  Army  of  the  Potomac." 

At  recurring  periods  of  four  years,  the  ignominious 
flitting  of  the  retiring  President  occurs,  and  he  who 
came  in,  escorted  to  the  Capitol  by  a  motley  procession 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  55 

of  tinsel-clad  clubs,  negro  Knights  Templar,  Bungtown 
Rangers,  and  faded-looking,  patched-up  battalions  of 
Regulars,  awed  by  the  ferocious  militia  in  the  rear,  and 
sundry  visiting  Governors  in  unromantic  cylinder  hats, 
slinks  away,  grip-sack  in  hand,  and  with  untold  bitter- 
ness in  his  heart.  "None  so  poor  as  to  do  him  honor!" 
No  wheezy  German  bands  blare  out,  "Hail  to  the 
Chief,"  as  he  steals  into  the  railway  station  and  buys  a 
ticket  to  his  home.  The  iron  has  entered  his  soul,  for 
his  "pass"  is  cut  off — he  is  a  discrowned  Caesar!  The 
P rector ian  guards  of  the  country  have  made  a  new  king. 
"Le  roi  est  mort!  Viveleroi!" 

These  things  occurred  to  Jack  Manson,  in  a  fit  of 
philosophy,  as  he  wandered  through  the  early  morning 
streets.  Here  and  tJjM-e,  lazy  negroes  dragged  along 
to  market,  tired  barkeepers  arranged  the  "  decoctions  " 
for  the  dull  day,  and  a  few  workmen  in  a  limp,  uncer- 
tain fashion,  ambled  along  on  some  supposed  daily 
tasks. 

"  Queer  place!  Everybody  asleep!"  remarked  Jack 
as  he  sought  the  hotel.  The  gorgeous  clerk  tossed  him 
a  letter,  with  an  air  of  easy  superiority,  and  listlessly, 
from  mere  ennui,  invited  the  stranger  to  have  a  "  morn- 
ing cocktail." 

"Very  quiet  here!"  said  Jack,  led,  like  a  sheep  to  the 
slaughter,  to  the  Temple  of  Bacchus! 

"  Wait  till  Grant's  elected!  You  will  see  things  hum 
here,"  carelessly  replied  the  clerk,  "we  will  scalp  from 
the  crowd  in  five  months  enough  to  live  the  other  seven 
on !  Everybody  loafs  in  the  off  months  in  Washington." 

Jack  tore  open  his  letter.  His  heart  lightened.  "So 
Jimmy  will  be  here  in  two  days  and  take  me  over  to 
Arundel  House."  Manson  was  almost  gay  as  he 
escaped  from  the  indolent  clerk.  During  his  breakfast 
he  thanked  the  fickle  goddess  of  fortune  that  he  could, 


56  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

with  due  dignity,  visit  Fairfax  Court  House.  "  I  will 
pretend  that  I  am  dragged  over  there  by  Jimmy.  I  will 
ignore  Katie.  By  heavens!  I'll  make  love  to  St. 
Cecilia  Alice!" 

On  second  thoughts  Jack  abandoned  this  as  too  dan- 
gerous. He  resolved  ways  and  means  of  "disciplining" 
the  blue-eyed  cruel  one,  and  was  still  hazy  in  his  ideas, 
when  he  dismissed  the  all-important  subject  and  sent  a 
cautious  cipher  despatch  to  Mark  Manson. 

"I  will  take  one  of  these  antiquated  vehicles  and 
systematically  explore  this  half-peopled  wilderness  of 
the  national  official  caravansary.  I  can  worry  out 
these  days  looking  over  the  public  buildings,  and  the 
dinner  and  Maxan,  with  Senator  Steele's  interviews, 
will  exhaust  the  evenings  till  Jimmy  comes,"  he 
thought,  as  he  rolled  away;  forTR  was  anxious  to  see 
the  last  person  known  to  him  who  had  seen  the  wilful 
maid  of  his  heart. 

Ramon  Maxan's  heart  was  troubled  as  he  sent  his 
card  in  at  noon  to  Mrs.  Mildred  Smiley,  yet  his  smiling 
face  and  irreproachable  attire  marked  only  the  man  on 
pleasure  bent. 

"  I  would  sooner  face  a  dead  shot  at  ten  paces  than 
have  an  out  and  out  scene  with  Milly,"  the  Creole 
soliloquized,  as  he  caught  the  soft,  swishing  rustle  of 
her  robes,  when  the  beauty  descended  the  stairway. 

"  Better  have  the  breakfast  first,  and  the  conference 
later,"  thought  the  wily  Creole. 

With  simulated  passion  he  sprang  to  the  side  of  the 
"  Empress,"  never  more  radiant,  her  eyes  lambent  with 
a  strange  light,  as  she  closed  the  drawing-room  door. 

Her  head  rested  on  his  breast. 

"  It  is  an  age  since  I  have  seen  you,  Ramon,"  the 
woman  passionately  said,  "  at  least  alone.  Old  Steele 
is  such  a  bore — the  old  jackal,"  she  snapped  out. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  57 

''True,  darling,"  murmured  Maxan,  "but  he  is 
absolutely  necessary  to  us.  The  low  beast  has  a  clear 
interest  in  the  <  inside  deal '  of  the  Rio  Grande  Com- 
pany. It  is  only  through  him  that  we  can  manage  the 
Government  and  control" — he  bent  his  head  and  whis- 
pered a  name  in  her  ear.  The  beauty  nodded. 

"You  are  right,  Ramon;  but  I  despise  him  so!"  the 
beautiful  sorceress  said,  twining  her  arms  around  him. 

She  started  as  a  hand  was  laid  on  the  folding  doors 
opening  into  the  superb  dining-room.  "  Let  us  break- 
fast," Milly  Smiley  cried  gaily,  leading  her  dark-eyed 
lover  to  a  feast  of  her  most  thoughtful  selection. 

In  merriest  mood  the  two  conspirators  pledged  their 
stolen  joys  of  the  past,  the  sweets  of  the  present,  and  a 
rosy  future.  Milly  Smiley  was  to-day  the  untram- 
meled  fond  and  loving  woman.  Not  the  "  Empress," 
but  the  favorite,  anxious  to  captivate,  to  delight,  to 
enslave  her  romantic  adorer. 

Resolute  as  Maxan  was,  he  felt  his  heart  beat  nerv- 
ously as  the  coffee  and  cigarettes  marked  the  close  of 
the  happy  hour. 

"  It  must  be  done,  for  both  our  sakes,"  he  reflected. 

Drawing  forth  a  cabana,  he  threw  himself  in  an  easy 
chair,  for  the  adventuress,  reclining  on  a  divan,  was 
daintily  toying  with  a  cigarette,  complacently  eying 
her  own  lovely  hands  and  playing  with  her  priceless 
rings. 

"  See  here,  Milly,"  Maxan  slowly  began.  "  I  have 
something  important  to  say  to  you."  The  sound  of  his 
voice  made  the  woman  start.  It  was  hollow  and 
strangely  unfamiliar.  She  half  rose  and  almost 
screamed: 

"You  are  not  going  away,  Ramon?" 

"  Don't  be  silly,"  he  sharply  replied.  «  It  might  be 
easier  if  I  were  to.  I  have  a  hard  campaign  ahead  for 
both  of  us." 


58  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"What  is  it?  Don't  trifle  with  me!"  the  excited 
beauty  cried. 

"Listen  to  me,  then.  You  shall  know  all,"  the 
Creole  began.  "  You  saw  that  young  fool  last  night?  " 

The  woman  nodded  eagerly. 

"  He  is  smart  enough  at  his  railroad  trade,"  said 
Maxan,  with  a  sneer.  "  Old  Mark  Manson  has  no 
other  heir.  This  boy  is  alone  in  the  world.  The  old 
Shylock  has  started  him  off  to  Texas  to  dig  up  all 
about  his  Rio  Grande  interests,  and  to  build  that  road, 
so  vital  to  us,  from  Corpus  Christi  to  Laredo.  Now, 
old .  Manson  knows  nothing  of  our  '  secret  operations.' 
He  gets  no  dividends  on  his  fourth  share  from  that. 
Only  Steele,  Si  Leavenworth,  and  No.  4,"  he  said,  with 
a  meaning  wink.  "  I  get  half  the  income  of  Steele's 
secret  interest,  but  am  forced  to  trust  to  his  honor. 
You  know  what  that  is."  He  paused. 

"  I  do — well  enough,"  said  the  recumbent  sultana, 
her  bosom  heaving. 

"It's  a  queer  thing.  We  must  have  old  Leaven- 
worth  to  run  the  franchise,  the  Texan  legislature  and 
courts,  as  well  as  the  customs  officers.  He  owns  all 
the  steamboats  and  wagon  trains.  We  require  Steele 
to  'square'  the  Treasury  Department  and  hoodwink  the 
President  and  No.  4.  Steele,  although  he  is  only  a 
'carpet  bagger,'  will  dictate  the  new  Federal  appoint- 
ments in  the  Gulf  States.  General  Grant  is  honest  and 
unsuspecting,  but  the  party  will  force  Steele  on  him. 
The  old  devil  really  has  good  humor  and  self-control. 
Mark  Manson  is  absolutely  necessary  to  the  floating  of 
the  railroad  bonds  and  getting  us  iron  and  rolling-stock. 
We  will  divide  the  land  in  four  equal  shares,  but  Mark 
has  never  met  me.  I  have  never  even  seen  him." 

"  I  am  the  only  man  in  danger!  If  there  is  any 
break,  that  little  Indian  devil  of  a  Colonel — Mejia — who 


FOR  LIFE  AND  LOVE.  59 

commands  the  Mexicans  on  the  Rio  Grande,  would 
have  me  shot  in  ten  minutes.  He  is  as  wily* and  stern 
as  old  Benito  Juarez.  So  is  Romero.  Now  even  this 
Jack  Manson  may  not  be  the  ordinary  every-day  fool. 
He  has  been  six  years  on  the  Union  Pacific  and  he 
is  up  to  '  Credit  Mobilier  '  and  all  that.  Old  Manson 
has  many  schemes,  and  has  his  spies  and  agents  every- 
where. The  only  place  where  he  can't  break  our  lines 
is  with  A.  R.  Chisholm  &  Co.  of  New  Orleans.  With 
their  branch  houses  at  Brownsville,  Matamoras,  the 
Corpus  Christi  Bank  and  Monterey,  our  'inside  work' 
is  safe  and  the  money  will  be  divided  squarely.  Chis- 
holm is  a  cousin  of  *  *  *,  and  Maxan  again  whispered 
the  name  of  'No.  4.'  As  long  as  No. 4  keeps  his  place, 
we  are  safe.  Si  Leavenworth,  Steele,  No.  4,  Chisholm, 
and  myself  must  trust  each  other  for  life  and  death;  but 
I  have  to  look  to  my  safety.  I  must  hook  on  where 
they  won't  dare  to  hurt  me.  While  we  control  the 
customs  officers  on  both  sides  of  the  Rio  Grande,  our 
secret  trade  is  a  gold  mine.  But  I  must  make  a  decisive 
move.  My  hacienda  and  rancho  would  go,  if  they  shot 
me!  You  would  be  stranded." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  What  is  it  that  you  must  do  ? " 
faltered  the  frightened  woman,  as  she  rose  and  paced 
the  room  in  excitement.  "What  do  you  fear?" 

"  This  Jack  Manson  is  a  heart  brother  and  college 
chum  of  young  Leavenworth.  They  will  be  here  with 
his  sisters  till  after  election."  The  Creole  briefly 
recounted  Jack's  unreserved  disclosures. 

A  growing  fear  haunted  Milly  Smiley's  passion- 
tormented  heart.  She  felt  her  love  slipping  away  frorrj 
her. 

"  Go  on,"  she  said,  in  a  strangely  muffled  voice. 
The  mantel  clock  ticked  noisily  away.  The  silence 
was  unbroken  till  Maxan,  gazing  uneasily  at  the 


60  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  Empress,"  whose  face  had  unconsciously  hardened 
said  slowly: 

"I  must  cut  in  between  young  Manson  and  Jimmy 
Leavenworth.  Manson  will  hang  around  Rancho  San 
Miguel.  Jimmy  does  not  know  all,  but  Jack  will  pick 
it  up  bit  by  bit,  and  old  Manson  will  come  down  on  us 
for  back  dividends,  and  he  may  pull  out  of  the  railroad 
and  break  us  all  up.  No.  4  could  not  stand  it!  Dis- 
closure would  ruin  him  and  also  Steele.  I  would  lose 
my  life.  The  only  safe  ones  would  be  Si  Leavenworth 
and  that  old  New  York  skinflint." 

"  I  must  capture  Jimmy  Leavenworth,  break  that 
friendship  with  Manson,  and  play  for  safety." 

"  How  ?"  demanded  Milly,  with  a  wildly  oeating 
heart. 

"  You  must  help  me,  Milly,"  said  Ramon,  with  his 
eyes  averted.  He  dared  not  face  the  "  Empress  "  in 
her  coming  wrath.  "You  must  make  your  strongest 
running  011  this  boy  to-night.  Make  him  your  slave. 
Drive  all  thoughts  of  every  other  woman  out  of  his 
head." 

Milly  Smiley  stood  like  a  tiger  at  bay! 

"And  you,  your  part?"  she  hissed. 

44 1  must  marry  the  Leavenworth  girl — the  one  this 
boy  is  wild  over — her  name  is  Katie." 

Springing  to  the  table,  where  the  rich  half-tasted 
feast  was  spread,  Milly  Smiley  grasped  a  wicked- 
looking  knife. 

"  If  you  do,  I'll  drive  this  tnrough  your  heart!  By 
the  God  who  made  me,  I'll  kill  you,  and  kill  myself 
next!" 

Ramon  Maxan  bowed  his  head  before  the  whirlwind 
of  a  wicked  woman's  wildest  rage. 

"  Then  I  have  to  leave  all,  and  sneak  off  to  Europe 
like  a  whipped  cur,"  said  Maxan  bitterly.  Gently 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  6l 

grasping  her  hands,  he  drew  her  <lown  beside  him. 
The  maddened  beauty  burst  into  tears. 

"  I  can  not  give  you  up,  Ramon.  You  do  not  know 
what  you  ask  me.  You  are  my  whole  life." 

Five  minutes  of  pleading  and  suing  brought  a  lull  in 
the  tempest.  Ramon  tenderly  held  a  brimming  glass 
of  the  richest  Burgundy  to  the  pale  lips  of  the 
"  Empress." 

"  Listen  to  me,"  he  said  softly.  "  Manson  is  an  open- 
hearted  fellow.  I  divined  his  love  for  the  younger  girl, 
Katie,  from  his  tell-tale  face.  The  only  way  I  can 
oust  him  from  his  friendship  with  Jim  is  to  gain  this 
girl's  heart.  You  can  handle  Manson.  No  man  can 
resist  you,  at  your  best,"  the  Creole  said  artfully.  She 
smiled  faintly  with  trembling  lips!  "If  I  marry  this 
girl  I  get  a  third  of  Rancho  San  Miguel.  Si  Leaven- 
worth  must  protect  me,  and  he  has  Steele  in  his 
power.  I  will  have  a  haven  at  once,  and  then  I  can 
defy  Mejia.  Old  Manson  will  have  abundant  money 
and  it  will  tie  the  whole  system  together." 

"  I  swear  to  you,"  he  cried,  dropping  on  his  knees, 
"  Milly,  I  swear  to  you  that  I  will  leave  this  half- 
grown  school  girl  down  there  in  her  mesquite  groves! 
I  will  take  you  to  Europe.  You  shall  have  a  queen's 
luxury,  and  her  money,  her  protection,  will  guard  your 
real  interests.  You  can  come  down  to  New  Orleans 
any  time  you  wish.  I  can  run  over  at  will,  for  I  have 
all  the  '  outside  secret  business'  to  handle.  You  know, 
my  beauty,  that  I  could  not  marry  you  safely.  No  one 
has  ever  seen  Smiley,  whose  name  you  bear.  " 

The  imperial  fair  one  winced,  though  her  face  was 
buried  in  her  hands. 

"  It  is  the  only  way  out,  my  darling,"  the  pleading 
tempter  whispered.  "  It  opens  life  and  love,  the  future 
to  both  of  us.  Old  Steele  will  not  be  your  jailer  then, 


62  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE, 

and  I  will  fight  for  your  freedom.  I  will  give  you  my 
whole  life!  I  wish  you  to  stay  here  and  fight  this  game 
through  with  me." 

He  continued :  "  When  we  have  the  land  grants 
safe,  and  the  government  business  controlled,  I  will 
have  a  clean  half  million  as  my  share,  and  I  swear 
that  I  will  settle  half  of  it  on  you!  I  will  have  the 
secret  dividends  also.  If  you  will  work  with  me,  I 
can  control  Si  Leavenworth,  Steele,  and,  through  him, 
No.  4.  We  three  can  outvote  Mark  Manson,  and 
keep  the  ambitious  youngster  from  controlling  the  new 
railroad.  If  you  will  not  be  reasonable,  I  shall  have 
my  revenge  at  least.  I  will  put  this  young  fool  out  of 
the  way  on  the  Rio  Grande.  He  never  shall  marry  that 
girl.  D — n  the  girl!  She's  only  a  chit  of  a  boarding- 
school  miss,  but  she  is  the  key  to  the  situation.  I  have  a 
fellow  (one  of  my  own),  Joaquin  Ximenes,  at  Rancho 
San  Miguel.  He  is  a  cool  desperado  and  a  spy.  If  this 
youth  goes  down  there,  he  will  '  fix  him,'  or  lead  him 
into  ambush.  I  don't  want  to  kill  him  myself  (unless 
we  quarrel),  for  old  Manson  would  kick,  but  Joaquin 
will  attend  to  his  little  case,"  said  the  Creole  grimly. 
"  We  had  a  treasury  agent  poking  his  nose  in  down 
there  last  year.  He  started  from  Brownsville  to  Corpus 
Christi  with  his  report.  He  was  killed  by  '  maraud- 
ers' ! "  sneered  Maxan.  "  All  the  same,  Ximenes 
handed  me  the  report  and  all  his  papers.  He  piously 
kept  the  other  valuables  for  himself." 

"Now,  Milly,  'will  you  be  reasonable?"  Maxan's 
voice  trembled  from  excitement.  The  "Empress" 
threw  herself  sobbing  in  his  arms. 

"And  you  will  never  desert  me?"  she  said,  gazing  at 
him  with  flaming  eyes. 

"Never — by  the  God  above  us!"  protested  the  Creole. 

Milly  Smiley  pressed  burning  kisses  on  his  lips. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  63 

"  Then  watch  me  at  dinner,"  she  said,  with  an  omi- 
nous pride  in  her  accents.  "  Leave  me  now,  Ramon !  I 
must  look  my  very  best  to-night,"  and  she  smiled 
through  her  tears. 

"  One  word  more,"  said  the  Creole,  drawing  her  to 
his  bosom,  for  the  victory  was  his;  "Senator  Steele 
will  bring  this  whole  party  to  you.  I  wish  you  to  use 
carte  blanche  in  entertaining  the  ladies.  Be  careful  of 
Mrs.  Marshall  and  her  daughter.  They  are  quiet, 
haughty  Virginians.  Do  not  be  too  familiar  and  eager 
with  them.  They  are  as  proud  as  they  are  poor.  But 
as  to  the  Texan  girls,  lavish  all  your  arts  on  them. 
Draw  them  away  from  Mrs.  Marshall,  she  is  very 
quiet.  The  girls  love  pleasure  naturally.  Wind  your 
webs  around  Katie  Leavenworth's  heart  and  get  her 
whole  confidence.  Your  friendship  will  flatter  her. 
I  will  come  here  and  meet  her  and  I  will  have  Steele 
keep  young  Manson  off  on  business  pretexts.  Before 
she  goes  to  Texas  she  must  be  my  promised  wife."  In 
ten  minutes,  Maxan,  with  a  light  heart,  turned  his  horses 
toward  the  Soldiers'  Home,  and  Milly  Smiley  decked 
herself  and  arranged  the  feast  of  the  evening  to  ensnare 
a  new  lover  in  order  to  keep  an  old  one.  For  the  simple 
girl  to  be  deluded  she  had  neither  pity  nor  sympathy ! 
"  Ramon's  will  must  be  my  law,"  she  thought,  as  her 
dark  lover's  face  came  back  to  her. 

"  I  could  not  marry  him,  it  is  true,  but  he  shall  be 
mine  till  death  /" 

While  Jack  Manson  rested  at  his  hotel  and  Milly 
Smiley  deftly  arranged  her  plan  of  campaign  for  the 
evening,  Senator  Ezra  Steele  complacently  listened  to 
Ramon  Maxan's  partial  confidences. 

"I  think,  Senator,  I  will  be  able  to  get  pretty  close 
to  this  young  man's  inner  thoughts.  I  wish  to  bring 
all  our  guns  to  bear  socially  upon  this  party.  They  are 


64  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

all  coming  here  soon.  Jimmy  Leavenworth  has  a 
penchant  for  the  Virginia  girl.  Mrs.  Marshall  will 
probably  come  here  to  the  Arlington  and  matronize  the 
three  '  rosebuds.'  Nothing  more  likely  than  that  the 
two  chums  will  stay  at  the  Ebbitt.  Now  you  can  do 
much,  in  your  high  position,  to  occupy  and  distract  Mrs. 
Marshall.  The  'Empress'  will  make  special  running 
on  these  Texas  girls,  and  your  efforts  will  draw  off  Mrs. 
Marshall's  watchful  eyes.  Milly  will  twist  this  frontier 
engineer  around  her  fingers  in  a  week.  I  flatter  myself 
I  will  captivate  Mr.  Jim  Leavenworth  and  cut  Manson 
off  from  the  girls  and  the  young  man.  Miss  Gertie  Mar- 
shall will  be  the  only  person  the  Texan  will  watch 
closely. 

"  By  the  way,  we  must  be  a  half-hour  late  at  dinner 
to-night.  Milly  will  be  in  her  best  war  paint  and  I 
think  she  will  make  young  Manson's  head  whirl  in  that 
tete-a-tete.  I  will  come  over  for  you,"  said  Maxan, 
in  adieu. 

Mr.  Jack  Manson,  after  a  careful  toilet,  bethought 
himself  of  the  little  duties  of  that  society  so  long  denied 
him.  An  exquisite  basket  of  the  choicest  flowers  pre- 
ceded him  to  the  residence  of  the  graceful  hostess. 

"  I  must  confer  with  Uncle  Mark,"  thought  Jack,  as 
he  sauntered  in  the  cool  of  the  evening  to  the  residence 
of  the  Louisiana  beauty.  "  Senator  Steele  and  Ramon 
Maxan  are  very  different  natures ;  yet  both  are  evidently 
in  confidential  intimacy  with  Mrs.  Smiley.  Can  it  be 
mere  social  friendship  which  knits  them  together?  I 
will  confide  in  Uncle  Mark.  He  seems  to  know  every- 
thing by  intuition!  " 

When  ushered  into  the  drawing-room,  Manson  found 
himself  alone.  His  eyes  roved  over  the  beautiful  sur- 
roundings and,  half  abstracted,  he  started  up  in  surprise 
as  the  hostess  glided  quietly  into  the  room. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  65 

The  young  man's  face  expressed  the  astonishment 
and  delight  he  could  not  conceal.  For  Mildred  Smiley 
was  wondrous  fair,  her  imperial  beauty  heightened  by 
the  exquisite  robe  and  the  flashing  diamond  stars 
gleaming  in  her  hair.  On  her  shapely  neck  a  neck- 
lace of  gems  (a  prince's  ransom)  glittered,  and  Jack 
noticed  the  loveliest  blossom  of  his  offering,  nestling  on 
her  sculptured  bosom. 

"Thanks  for  the  beautiful  flowers,  Mr.  Manson. 
They  are  really  superb,"  the  chatelaine  said  gracefully,  as 
she  motioned  her  visitor  to  a  seat.  She  glanced  furtively 
at  the  rose  in  her  bosom.  In  the  gloaming,  the  soft 
half-light,  with  the  wonderful  eyes  beaming  upon  him, 
Jack  fell  under  the  spell  of  the  enchantress  whose  art 
was  the  highest  and  most  delicate.  Unused  to  the  per- 
siflage of  society,  ardent  and  sincere,  Manson  yielded  to 
the  gentle  guidance  of  the  woman  by  his  side. 

Milly  Smiley's  witcheries  melted  the  reserve  of  Jack 
Manson's  nature  like  wax  under  the  summer  sun.  The 
"Empress"  swept  the  harp  strings  of  men's  souls  like 
the  forest  breeze  waking  the  Eolian  chords. 

"So,"  the  lady  remarked,  "your  friend,  Mr.  Leaven- 
worth  will  be  here  to-moirow!  Pray,  bring  him  to  see 
me.  Is  he  like  yourself  in  nature?"  Milly 's  implied 
compliment  touched  Jack.  "  Ramon  must  know  of  this 
arrival  at  once,"  the  temptress  thought. 

Jack  Manson,  under  the  spell  of  siren  eyes,  half 
regretted  the  coming  of  the  expected  guests.  As  the 
hostess  rose,  she  whispered  to  the  man  around  whose 
heart  she  was  weaving  her  subtle  we.b :  "  You  must 
come  and  see  me  often.  Come  alone!  I  am  always  at 
home  mornings  after  ten.  You  must  let  m£  show  you 
the  beautiful  environs.  For  I  pride  myself  on  my 
horses!" 

Manson  bent  over  the  slender  hand,  daintily  offered, 
and  kissed  it  chivalrously. 


66  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  We  are  friends,  are  we  not?"  Milly  Smiley  archly 
said,  as  the  imposing  form  of  Senator  Steele  appeared 
at  the  door,  followed  by  the  dark,  graceful  beauty  of 
the  Creole. 

The  dinner  was  a  masterpiece  of  the  refined  luxury 
of  pleasure-loving  Washington.  Senator  Steele  took 
on  a  temporary  dignity  and  air  of  the  "haut-ton"  in  def- 
erence to  the  aesthetic  background  and  his  desire  to 
shine  before  his  Egeria.  Maxan's  cosmopolitan  accom- 
plishments made  him  easily  the  star  of  the  little  circle. 
He  gracefully  drew  out  of  Manson  the  fact  of  Leaven- 
worth's  arrival. 

Senator  Steele  was  apt  at  his  cue.  "It  will  afford  me 
great  pleasure  to  offer  the  usual  courtesies  to  Mrs. 
Marshall  and  the  young  ladies.  Her  husband  was  an 
eminent  man;  I  knew  him  well  as  Judge  Marshall, 
and  I  am  glad  I  was  spared  meeting  him  as  Colonel 
Marshall  of  the  C.  S.  A." 

Steele  heaved  a  sigh.  He  had  been  a  judicious  war- 
rior of  the  great  Army  of  the  Union,  in  some  apocryphal 
staff  appointment  which  kept  him  with  whole  bones, 
full  pay,  and  an  unsoiled  uniform. 

The  "Empress"  gently  added  her  prospective  wel- 
come to  the  expected  visitors.  When  the  superb  feast 
was  ended,  Maxan  adroitly  separated  himself  from  the 
senator  and  Manson.  His  foreign  courtesy  prompted 
him  to  seek  a  corner  of  the  drawing-room  with  the 
radiant  hostess. 

The  butler  ushered  Steele  and  his  young  neophyte 
into  the  smoking-room  "&  la  Turque".  Ezra  Steele, 
reclining  in  an  easy  chair,  sipped  his  coffee  and  enjoyed 
a  regalia  wrfile  deftly  sounding  Jack  Manson's  mind. 

"  I  expect  your  uncle  soon,  in  fact  in  a  very  few 
days.  We  will  go  over  these  railroad  plans  and  I 
shall  defer  much  to  your  practical  views.  Cultivate 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  67 

Maxan;  he  is  a  man  of  great  influence  in  Mexican  cir- 
cles and  can  largely  aid  our  future  enterprise.  If  there 
is  no  accident  in  General  Grant's  re-election,  you  will  see 
stirring  times  below.  A  great  local  development,  sir.' 

For  an  hour,  the  sly  old  Judas  carefully  probed  every 
depth  of  Jack  Manson's  honest  open  nature. 

"  He  is  all  right,"  thought  the  senator.  "  We  can 
handle  the  boy  easily.  Still  I  must  keep  on  the  best 
terms  with  him  and  thus  win  young  Leavenworth's  con- 
fidence. These  two  friends  will  hoodwink  each  other." 

Glancing  at  his  watch,  the  statesman  remarked:  "  I 
regret  I  must  now  leave  you,  but  you  must  bring  your 
college  comrade  to  me  at  once,  on  his  arrival." 

Leading  the  way  to  the  drawing-room,  Senator 
Steele  artfully  reminded  Ramon  Maxan  of  a  joint 
appointment. 

The  laughing  lady  of  the  enchanted  castle  claimed 
Jack  Manson  as  a  knight  in  attendance,  and  the  mid- 
night hour  was  near  when  her  visitor  bent  over  the 
lady's  hand  in  ceremonious  adieu. 

"To-morrow,  dear  old  Jim  arrives!"  Manson  thought, 
as  he  paced  the  now  deserted  street  homeward,  and  a 
vision  of  the  bright-eyed  Hebe  dissipated  the  glamour 
of  Milly  Smiley's  royal  beauty.  "  She  is,  however, 
a  queen,  a  wonder,"  the  stranger  mused. 

Before  the  easy-going  denizens  of  Washington  were 
attacking  the  tedious  hours  of  the  next  day,  the  two 
college  friends  were  reunited. 

"  I  will  stay  a  day  with  you,  Jack,  but  am  under 
orders  to  bring  you  '  by  force  of  arms '  back  to  Arundel." 
Manson's  cheek  reddened  slightly. 

"  Whose  gentle  commands  are  laid  on  you?"  he 
asked. 

"  Oh !  Mrs.  Marshall,  Gertie,  sister  Alice,  and  all," 
the  bright-hearted  Texan  gaily  answered.  "Ah!  Yes! 


68  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Katie  said  she  supposed  your  visit  was  for  me,  but  she 
too  hoped  to  see  you." 

In  friendly  converse  the  chums  made  eager  plans 
for  the  future,  and  Jack  Manson  revelled  in  Leaven- 
worth's  graphic  word-pictures  of  life  in  the  border 
land. 

The  card  of  Ramon  Maxan  put  an  end  to  these 
confidences.  In  an  hour  the  three  young  men  were 
seated  in  Senator  Steele's  snug  lair  at  the  Arlington. 

An  "entente  cordiale  "  was  at  once  established,  as 
the  business  associations  of  his  father  caused  the  young 
frontier  magnate  to  open  his  heart  freely  to  Senator 
Steele. 

Before  the  party  separated  for  a  dinner  at  the  Club, 
Senator  Steele's  stately  offer  of  courtesies  was  pleas- 
antly accepted.  The  evening  hours  brought  the  new- 
made  friends  to  the  hospitable  doors  of  the  «'  Empress." 

When  the  trio  returned  from  the  presence  of  the 
Fair  Ladye,  there  was  a  quiet  smile  on  Ramon  Maxan's 
thin  lips.  Off-hand  Jimmy  Leavenworth  had  warmly 
invited  him  to  Arundel  House  as  a  future  visitor,  and 
Mrs.  Milly  Smiley's  kind  proffers  of  attentions  to  the 
ladies  pleased  the  gallant  Texan. 

With  rare  tact,  Maxan  deferred  his  Virginian  visit  for 
some  days.  «'  I  must  not  go  too  fast,"  he  thought,  "  but 
I  will  lay  odds  that  the  'Empress'  and  Steele,  with  my 
humble  efforts  added,  can  handle  this  situation." 

"  Remember  Leavenworth,"  Maxan  cried  gaily  in 
adieu,  "  you  will  find  Hacienda  Maxan's  latch  string 
always  out,  and  I  will  look  you  up  at  Rancho  San 
Miguel." 

"  We  will  all  meet  on  the  Rio  Grande.  In  the 
mean  time  let  me  do  the  honors  here.  You  can  pay 
me  off  later  in  true  Texan  style!  " 

Jack  Manson's  business  weighed  lightly  on  him  now. 


FOR   LIFE   AND   LOVE.  69 

A  despatch  to  his  uncle  announcing  his  temporary 
absence  and  telegraphic  address  closed  all,  leaving  him 
free  to  effect  the  peaceful  invasion  of  Virginia. 
Manson  counted  the  hours  till  the  train  drew  out  from 
Alexandria  the  next  afternoon.  Manson's  heart  beat 
wildly  as,  stepping  from  the  cars  at  Fairfax  Court 
House,  he  saw  once  more  the  bright-eyed  Hebe  who 
had  haunted  his  uneasy  dreams.  The  antique  travelling 
carriage,  in  faded  grandeur,  and  the  aged  African  driver 
were  characteristic  of  the  Old  Dominon.  Sweet  Gertie 
Marshall's  fair  cheek  took  on  a  brighter  shade  of  rose 
as  Leaven  worth  sprang  to  meet  her.  With  stately 
deliberation,  Jack  Manson  approached  Miss  Katie, 

The  premeditated  programme  of  "  discipline "  was 
at  once  abandoned  by  the  young  engineer  as  the  Texan 
belle  demurely  remarked :  "  It  was  so  kind  of  you  to 
come.  I  suppose  you  can  finish  your  business  with 
Brother  Jimmy  here  at  leisure."  The  carriage  was  soon 
under  way,  driven  in  solemn  fashion  through  the  long 
street  of  sleepy  Fairfax  Court  House,  where  the  first 
cavalrv  outpost  dash  of  the  war  occurred. 

Jack  Manson  bit  his  lip  to  avoid  bursting  into  laugh- 
ter. As  the  rolling  ground  was  reached,  Leavenworth 
and  Gertrude  were  deep  in  a  murmured  conversation. 
Manson  was  conscious  that  the  keen-eyed  Katie  was 
searching  his  very  soul.  His  delighted  eye  rested  on 
the  beautiful  landscape,  its  fair  extent  now  smiling  in 
peace  and  plenty.  The  evening  shades  weue  creeping 
into  dells  and  stealing  over  the  wooded  hills. 

Nature's  fairy  touch  had  hidden  the  ravages  of  war. 
The  tired  feet  once  plodding  the  ancient  roads  had  been 
resting  by  thousands,  for  years,  under  the  "  sacred 
soil."  Stealing  a  glance  at  sweet  Katie,  Manson  in 
courteous  terms  sought  news  of  Mrs.  Marshall  and  sister 
Alice. 


fO  FOR   LIFE    AND   LOVE. 

"They  are  anxiously  awaiting  your  arrival,"  the  fair 
one  with  the  golden  locks  answered. 

"And  you?"  said  Jack,  with  a  wild  dash  into  senti- 
ment. 

"Oh!  I  came  only  to  meet  Brother  Jimmy,"  the 
wicked  maiden  demurely  said.  . 

"Most  certainly,  I  see,"  replied  Manson,  sinking  into 
a  renewed  despair.  He  glued  his  eyes  to  the  witching 
scenes  of  dying  day  and  deepening  shadow,  as  the 
horses  trotted  along  toward  Arundel  House. 

Miss  Katie  eyed  her  dejected  companion  curiously. 
"  You  are  fond  of  nature,  Mr.  Manson  ? "  There  was 
a  roguish  ring  in  her  words. 

"  I  am  tired  of  still  life,"  mutinously  replied  Jack, 
watching  her  pretty  little  foot  tapping  nervously. 

"  That  girl  has  temper"  Manson  muttered,  down  in 
the  depths  of  his  being.  He  was  permitted  to  indulge 
his  fondness  for  "  still  life"  until,  with  a  flourish,  the 
carriage,  sweeping  through  noble  groves  of  old  oaks, 
past  copse  and  hedges,  on  through  the  stately  old-fash- 
ioned gardens,  drew  up  before  the  imposing  Doric 
portico  of  Mrs.  Marshall's  pre-revolutionary  home. 

The  graceful  hostess,  with  "St.  Cecilia,"  greeted  the 
young  travellers.  Manson,  with  the  grave  courtesy  of 
a  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  assisted  Miss  Katie  to  alight. 

The  fairy  Hebe  flitted  to  her  bower  with  a  pretty  nod 
of  her  head,  followed  by  a  heartfelt  sigh  from  her 
baffled  adorer. 

Manson's  eye  roved  over  the  quaint  old  three-storied 
mansion,  whose  solid  walls  gleamed  white  among  its 
embowered  oaks.  The  grand  old  hall  was  rich  yet  in 
relics  of  family  grandeur,  spared  even  by  the  ruthless 
spoilers  of  the  Civil  War. 

It  was  a  merry  circle  which  gathered  around  the  sim- 
ple home  table.  Mrs.  Marshall's  gentle  dignity  was  a  foil 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  ^1 

to  the  ringing  laughter  of  the  younger  convives.  It  was 
the  first  outburst  of  natural  merriment  since  Colonel 
Marshall  had  been  brought  home  from  the  field  of 
honor. 

Under  the  guidance  of  Gertrude,  Jack  Manson 
explored  the  nooks  and  corners  of  the  seat  of  the 
Marshalls,  on  whose  walls  worthies  and  beauties  of 
past  generations  still  looked  down  in  bravery  or  sweet- 
ness. The  romance  of  the  old  still  lingered,  clinging 
to  the  stately  rooms,  within  which  the  loyal  sons  of 
King  George  had  toasted  "  Church  and  State;"  where, 
later,  the  revolutionary  blue  and  buff  had  swaggered 
bravely,  and  in  recent  sadder  days,  the  gray-eyed 
chivalry  of  Lee,  Jackson,  Jeb  Stuart,  and  Ashby  had 
pledged  the  "Stars  and  Bars"  to  bright-eyed  girls,  clad 
in  the  "red,  white,  and  red"  of  the  Southern  Confeder- 
acy. The  ancient  halls  seemed  filled  with  whispers  of 
days  long  dead  and  gone,  and  the  accentuation  of  pathos 
was  the  simple  portrait  of  a  handsome  lad  in  Confeder- 
ate gray  in  the  place  of  honor  on  the  drawing-room 
mantel. 

"  My  brother,"  softly  said  the  Greek-browed  Gertie, 
"  killed  in  Pelham's  Horse  Artillery,  at  Yellow  Tav- 
ern." 

Raising  her  eyes,  the  Southern  maid,  with  fond  rev- 
erence, whispered  "My  father!  We  lost  him  at  Mal- 
vern  Hill." 

The  crossed  swords  of  sire  and  son  hung  between  the 
pictured  faces  of  the  victims  of  the  delirium  of  "  61." 

Joining  the  group  on  the  portico,  Jack  Manson,  in  the 
witching  moonlight,  drew  near  to  the  sweet  stranger 
who  had  stolen  into  his  heart  of  hearts. 

Leavenworth  had  gaily  recited  the  glories  of  Mrs. 
Mildred  Smiley's  home,  the  hospitable  proffers  of  the 
statesman,  and  the  offered  escort  of  the  romantic  Creole. 


72  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  By  all  means!  "  said  Mrs.  Marshall.  "  I  should  be 
happy  to  receive  your  friend,  Mr.  Maxan." 

A  general  council  of  war  decided  upon  a  visit  to  the 
Capital  City.  "  Mr.  Manson,"  said  the  widowed 
hostess,  "  I  shall  leave  it  to  James  and  Gertrude  to 
pilot  you  around  the  country.  We  have  still  good 
horses — there  are  charming  rides.  Pray  consider  this 
your  home." 

As  the  gentle  lady  withdrew,  Jack  Manson  ventured 
an  approach  to  the  "  maid  who  needed  discipline."  "Do 
you  ride,  Miss  Katie?"  he  asked  with  interest. 

The  merry  laughter  of  the  Texan  Rose  rang  out  as 
musical  as  the  carol  of  a  bird. 

"A  Texan  girl  asked  if  she  rides!"  Katie  regained 
her  composure  with  difficulty.  "I  will  pardon  you, 
sir,"  the  beauty  said,  rising  with  mock  dignity,  "on 
condition  that  you  report  as  escort  to-morrow  at  nine! 
You  can  then  indulge  freely  your  fondness  for  land- 
scape effects.  You  will  see  nothing  but  prairies  in  Texas. 
Prairies,  sir!"  cried  the  merry  girl  as  she  vanished. 

The  abstracted  Leavenworth  roused  himself  from  his 
tete-a-tete  with  Gertrude  to  plan  the  future  use  of  the 
sunny  hours  before  them. 

Happy  days,  merriest  hours  glided  gaily  by.  Four 
days  later  Jack  Manson  and  Katie  Leavenworth,  return- 
ing from  a  sunny  morning  gallop,  saw  Ramon  Maxan 
standing  on  the  portico  of  Arundel  House.  His  dark 
impassioned  eyes  gleamed  as  Jack  Manson  presented 
the  handsome  Creole  to  his  lovely  Amazon.  The  golden 
morning  sunlight  flooded  the  eastern  front  of  Arundel 
and  the  coming  guest's  shadow  fell  dark  across  the 
threshold  of  the  old  Virginian  home.  "  Was  it  a;i 
omen?"  Manson  started  in  surprise. 

"  I  have  business  as  well  as  pleasure  in  view ! "  said 
Maxan,  with  ready  aplomb.  "Senator  Steele  desires 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  73 

greatly  to  see  Mr.  Leavenworth  on  an  important  matter, 
and  I  availed  myself  of  the  invitation  transmitted 
through  Mr.  Leavenworth  to  pay  my  respects."  When 
the  daughter  of  the  house  and  the  frontier  prince 
returned  from  a  morning  drive,  Mr.  Ramon  Maxan 
made  his  de"but  in  Virginian  circles.  With  restrained 
and  artful  courtesy  he  indicated  his  return  to  Washing- 
ton, in  the  evening. 

Mrs.  Marshall's  quiet  welcome  was  characteristic  of 
Southern  hospitality. 

The  family  visit  to  Washington  was  definitely  settled 
for  the  next  day. 

"  Those  mail  contracts  need  my  attention,"  said 
Leavenworth  to  Jack  Manson,  "  so  we  will  go  up  now." 

While  the  three  men  drove  to  the  station  the  woman 
congress  of  Arundel  busied  itself  with  the  ro- 
mantic Creole.  Katie  alone  was  silent;  her  thoughts 
were  busied  with"  inventing  new  schemes  to  torment 
"  her  loyal  knight,  Jack." 

"  His  manners  are  charming,"  was  the  favorable 
comment  of  the  conservative  hostess  on  Maxan,  "and 
yet  I  have  always  feared  the  close  acquaintance  of 
people  of  mixed  blood."  The  lady  of  Arundel,  with  a 
mother's  intuition,  had  noted  Maxan's  eager  glances 
drinking  in  the  unconscious  Katie's  beauty. 

While  Leavenworth  and  Manson  drove  home,  Ramon 
Maxan,  thoughtfully  reviewing  the  day,  murmured,  as 
he  dreamed  over  his  cigar,  his  easy  nature  lulled  with 
the  click  of  the  flying  wheels: 

"Caramba!  she  is  a  young  goddess,  this  Senorita 
Katie.  She  must  be  mine.  She  shall  rule  at  Hacienda 
Maxan.  And  yet,  Panchita  is  down  there!"  His  eye 
grew  steely  in  its  restless  glitter.  "  Madre  de  Dios!  I 
must  get  rid  of  her."  He  gazed  at  a  picture  in  his  pocket- 
book.  "I  can  bully  and  hoodwink  the  'Empress.' 


74  FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE. 

But  Panchita!"  He  fell  into  day-dreams  and  plot- 
weaving  until  the  lights  of  Washington  twinkled 
before  him. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

FOXES    IN    COUNCIL — SNARES     FOR     THE     UNWARY — 
CRCESUS    AND    THE    SENATOR. 

"  MADAM,  allow  me  to  welcome  you  to  Washington, 
I  am  delighted  to  meet  you!"  said  Senator  Ezra  Steele, 
in  his  grandest  "  parade  manner,"  as  he  ran  the  gaunt- 
let of  introduction  to  Mrs.  Marshall's  coterie  at  the 
Arlington. 

For  the  three  bright-eyed  beauties  were  a  sweet  guard 
of  honor  to  the  gentle  Virginian  matron,  and  were  assem- 
bled at  this  pleasant  formality;  the  young  men  also 
appeared  in  evidence. 

The  city  of  Washington  was  rapidly  filling  up  with 
excited  politicians.  Election  excitements  stirred  the 
capital  with  wildest  rumors,  and  the  preliminary  throes 
of  the  great  struggle  of  1872  were  being  felt.  The 
hotel  corridors  were  thronged  day  and  night. 

"  I  hope  you  will  permit  me  to  show  you  the  later 
lions  of  Washington,"  the  senator  genially  remarked. 
"  I  shall  have  to  deprive  you  of  Mr.  Leavenworth's 
escort  for  a  while,  as  his  father's  department  business 
may  continue  for  many  days.  We  are  associates  in 
many  affairs.  I  shall  leave  it  to  Mr.  Manson  and  my 
young  friend,  Senor  Ramon  Maxan,  to  aid  and  guide 
you.  Though  the  season  is  not  open,  there  is  still  much 
to  interest." 

Mrs.  Marshall  accepted  the  senator's  courtesies  and 
Ramon  Maxan's  eyes  gleamed  with  a  newer  fire,  as 
he  gazed  on  the  radiant  young  beauties  by  her  side. 


FOR  LIFE  AND  LOVE.  75 

Jack,  in  the  three  days  since  Maxan's  visit  to  Arun- 
del  House,  had  been  awaiting  the  coming  of  Mark 
Manson,  whose  telegraphic  announcement  of  arrival 
was  just  received.  So,  happily,  the  new  friends  jour- 
neyed on  to  Washington. 

The  hotel  register  at  Willard's  bore  the  name  of  A.  R. 
Chisholm,New  Orleans.  In  a  lull  of  the  ceremonial 
conversation,  Senator  Steele  found  time  to  confer  a  few 
moments  with  Manson. 

"We  will  probably  have  a  meeting  of  the  Rio 
Grande  Company  to-morrow  afternoon.  I  hold  one 
proxy.  Your  uncle  telegraphs  me  his  arrival  to-night, 
and  your  friend  Leavenworth  received  his  father's 
power  of  attorney  from  me  this  morning.  So,  my 
young  friend,  you  must  be  concent  to  let  Maxan  escort 
the  ladies  for  a  day  or  so.  We  will  take  up  the  rail- 
road matter,  for  time  presses." 

Manson  was  willing  and  anxious  to  learn  the  full 
details  of  his  trust.  While  Jack  conferred  with  the 
Texan,  Senator  Ezra  Steele  requested  permission  to 
bring  Mrs.  Mildred  Smiley  on  the  morrow  to  meet  the 
visiting  circle  from  Arundel  House.  This  delicate  bit 
of  feminine  diplomacy  arranged,  the  statesman  took  his 
leave,  followed  by  the  brilliant  Creole.  This  last 
gentleman  was  a  past  master  of  the  art  of  "  squiring 
darnes."  His  floral  offerings  already  ornamented  the 
spacious  apartments  of  the  ladies. 

"  My  services  are  yours  to  command,  madam,"  he 
said  in  parting.  "  I  hope  my  horses  may  please  even 
a  Virginia  lady." 

As  the  senator's  footfalls  died  away  in  the  corridor, 
the  widowed  patrician  woman  gazed  wistfully  from  her 
windows  on  the  far  distant  dome  of  the  Capitol. 

"  I  -  am    sadly  changed,    or   the  times  are   greatly 


76  FOR   LIFE    AND   LOVE. 

altered."  Mrs.  Marshall  recalled  the  embryo  Wash- 
ington of  her  girlhood  and  her  early  married  days. 

Senators,  august,  revered,  and  brilliant,  returned  to  her 
mind  from  a  dead  and  forgotten  past.  Knightly  Clay, 
grand  Webster,  the  mighty  Calhoun,  courtly  Preston, 
great  Benton,  and  a  host  of  national  leaders.  Foote,  G  win, 
Crittenden,  Breckinridge,  and  all  the  vanished  heroes 
of  the  forum  passed  in  shadowy  review.  The  still 
sorrowing  woman  turned  away  with  a  sigh  of  sad- 
ness. 

"  He  seems  pleasant,  this  man,  yet —  yet "  She 

thought  bitterly  of  the  fate  of  the  eleven  wayward  sister 
States  under  the  reconstruction  government.  The  vulgar 
thronged  in  these  halls  of  state;  adventurers  posed  as 
governors,  senators,  and  representatives,  aliens  to  the 
States  they  ruled,  and  pigmies  by  the  side  of  the  august 
shades  she  invoked.  Winifred  Marshall  knew,  at  last, 
the  helplessness  of  the  South  under  the  armed  heel  of 
the  stranger.  The  avalanche  of  the  "  Reconstruction 
debts  "  of  nine  Southern  States  already  aggregated  two 
hundred  and  ninety-two  millions  of  dollars! 

There  were  more  grinding  losses  than  the  dead  on  the 
field,  greater  sorrows  than  defeat,  and  a  cup  far  more 
bitter  than  the  humiliation  of  Appomattox  still  fated  to 
be  the  lot  of  the  Southron.  For  it  was  before  the  blush 
of  the  bright  dawn  of  the  new  era  in  which  the  regen- 
erated South  was  destined  to  proudly  move  onward 
and  upward,  and  even  with  fidelity  to  old  State  tradi- 
tions, with  reverent  affection  for  the  "  loved  and  lost," 
to  nobly  keep  time  in  happier  days  to  the  march  of 
the  Union,  consecrated  anew  with  the  chrism  of  warrior 
blood. 

"  Alas  !  The  re-election  of  the  Soldier-President 
binds  us  down  for  four  years  more,"  she  murmured. 
Turning  her  eyes  fondly  on  the  group  around  her  she 


FOR   LIFE   AND   LOVE.  77 

thought:  "I  must  try  to  make  them  all  happy.  They 
are  in  the  morning  sun  of  life.  I  walk  even  now  in 
sunset  shadows." 

The  two  young  men  briefly  arranged  for  the 
duties  before  them,  and  the  social  exploration  of  Wash- 
ington was  commenced  for  the  three  graces,  whose 
eager  hearts  were  happy  in  venturing  out  on  society's 
wave-tossed  bosom. 

In  the  same  giant  hostelry,  Ezra  Steele  held  a  council 
of  war  with  Maxan  before  seeking  the  "  Empress  "  on 
his  social  errand. 

"Now,  Ramon,"  Steele  sharply  said,  "our  inside 
circle  is  all  here.  We  will  have  the  open  meeting  first, 
discuss  the  railroad  scheme,  and  close  up  the  annual 
business  to  September  ist." 

"  Old  Mark  will  put  his  nephew  into  the  directory, 
I  suppose.  Young  Jim  will  have  his  father's  power  of 
attorney,  and  I  will  act  for  partner  No.  4."  "So 
we  will  get  old  Manson  quietly  out  of  the  way  and  back 
to  New  York.  I  fear  that  cool  old  skinflint.  He  can 
look  through  a  grindstone.  Then,  when  he  is  disposed 
of,  we  will  have  our  secret  meeting  and  divide  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  season's  work.  The  others  are  all  near  here. 
I  sent  cipher  telegrams  to  them  to  go  to  Barnum's  Hotel, 
Baltimore,  till  I  telegraph  for  them." 

"Who  is  up  here  now?"  said  Maxan,  all  alive. 

"  Well,"  said  Steele,  as  he  took  a  toss  of  cognac, 
"  Don  Patricio  from  Monterey,  Beriah  Mott  from 
Corpus  Christi,  Chisholm  (who  is  already  in  town), 
and  that  Danish  lawyer  of  Leavenworth's,  Colonel 
Nordenskiold.  The  collector's  brother  from  the  Rio 
Grande  represents  him  as  well  as  John  Park  and  Jerry 
Mulvain  of  Brownsville  and  Matamoras.  So,  you  see, 
we  have  a  full  house!"  The  old  schemer  laughed 
softly. 


^  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  We  will  push  ahead  openly  on  the  railroad  and 
transportation  matters.  That  will  do  until  this  election 
is  safe.  It  looks  even  a  little  doubtful  now,  but  when 
the  General  is  re-elected,  I  shall  know  in  a  day  or  so  if 
No.  4  keeps  his  place  in  the  government." 

"  Then  we  will  get  rid  of  this  young  engineer  by 
sending  him  out  on  the  surveys.  I  will  make  old 
"Leaven worth  watch  him  and  we  will  put  two  or  three 
men  in  his  party  who  will  keep  him  hoodwinked  and 
off  our  working  lines,  in  the  secret  matters.  When  he 
goes  out  on  the  exploration  and  survey  work,  you  had 
better  have  your  fellow  Ximenes  stick  pretty  close  to 
him,  and  have  a  couple  of  trusty  riders  to  carry  you  the 
news  and  take  your  orders.  You  must  hound  this 
interloper  down,  but  not  too  openly.  I  will  get  him 
away  from  here  the  minute  that  the  election  is  safe. 
You  must  follow  him  up  secretly." 

"All  right,"  snarled  Maxan,  "if  he  worries  us  he  will 
lie  some  day  under  a  mesquite  bush  with  his  throat 
cut.  He  shall  not  cross  my  path  and  live."  The 
Creole's,  brows  wrinkled  in  the  grim  horseshoe  of  the 
assassin. 

"  Easy,  Ramon,"  earnestly  answered  Steele.  "  Not 
a  blow  till  I  direct!" 

"Very  good.  I  have  got  it  in  for  him  though," 
the  half-breed  replied  with  a  malignant  scowl. 

"Now  I  am  off  to  Milly.  She  must1  give  these 
people  a  formal  dinner,  and  as  soon  as  Mark  goes  away, 
a  reception.  The  town  is  half  empty,  but  they  will 
not  know  the  difference." 

"  Both  of  you  must  cleave  to  young  Leavenworth. 
Cut  him  off  from  Manson!  Let  Milly  occupy  the 
Virginia  dowager's  leisure  hours,  and  also  make 
Manson  her  admirer." 

"You  are  right!  That's  the  game!"  said  the  Creole, 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  79 

"  I'm  off  now  for  a  drive." 

"Jack,"  said  Leavenworth,  as  the  friends  walked  over 
to  the  Ebbitt,  "I  have  very  important  affairs  to  rep- 
resent my  father  in  here.  I  do  not  care  to  be  thrown 
always  against  Senator  Steele.  He  is  a  little  too  smooth 
for  me.  Now  if  I  take  a  room  here  at  the  Ebbitt  near 
you,  I  can  spend  my  days  with  the  ladies,  and  we  can 
confer  in  quiet  nightly.  I  can  keep  the  senator  at 
arms-length,  as  our  family  party  has  already  a  tete-a- 
tetc  table.  He  dare  not  intrude  there." 

"  Moreover,  Maxan  is  a  shadow  of  the  senator's, 
I  know  that  my  father  has  confidential  business  with 
Steele,  but  I  will  not  have  it  leak  into  the  knowledge  of 
this  Ramon  Maxan.  It  is  two  to  one  always,  if  I  confer 
with  them  in  Steele's  rooms.  I  may  need  your  advice, 
and  your  uncle's  through  you.  Ramon  Maxan  seems 
to  be  high  up  in  Mexican  councils,  and  my  father's 
business  is  naturally  antagonistic  to  the  border  Mexican 
interests.  The  half-breed  is  a  pleasant  fellow  socially, 
but  I  think  that  he  would  be  a  dangerous  confidant. 

"  Now,  your  Uncle  Mark  will  be  here  at  six.  I  will 
take  the  ladies  to  the  theatre  to-night,  for  you  will  wish 
to  confer  until  he  is  done. 

"  Remember,  if  we  hold  your  uncle's  and  my 
father's  interests  together,  we  can  always  checkmate 
Steele  and  No.  4." 

The  Texan  selected  his  room  and  speedily  sought 
the  Arlington,  only  three  squares  distant. 

Jack  Manson  felt  a  strange  sense  of  relief  as  he  wel- 
comed Mark  at  the  station  when  the  New  York  train 
swept  in. 

After  a  deliberate  dinner,  the  old  capitalist  settled 
himself  in  his  rooms,  and,  drawing  out  a  little  note- 
book, gazed  at  Jack  over  his  cigar. 

"Now,  sir,  your  report;  tell  me  all," 


80  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

The  engineer  detailed  his  varied  experiences  social 
and  business,  up  to  the  very  hour. 

Not  a  word  escaped  Mark,  who  jotted  down  a  brief 
note  now  and  then. 

"Very  good!  "the  man  of  millions  remarked,  as  Jack 
concluded.  He  asked  a  few  pertinent  questions  as  to 
the  brilliant  Creole.  His  brow  was  clouded  with 
thought  when  Manson  finished  his  answers. 

"  I  can  not  see  the  reason  of  this  close  connection 
with  Steele.  Some  of  his  many  schemes,  I  suppose." 
Mark  cross-examined  the  young  man  as  to  the  fasci- 
nating Mrs.  Mildred  Smiley. 

"  Now  what  can  such  a  woman  be  doing  here?" 
the  old  man  mused,  and  dashed  off  an  entry  or  two. 
Jack's  evident  enthusiasm  for  the  fair  "  Empress"  did 
not  escape  the  veteran's  notice.  "  You  are  not  falling  in 
love  with  this  fascinating  stranger?"  Mark  Manson 
queried  abruptly,  as  frowns  wrinkled  his  brow. 

"  Xo,  sir!"  rejoined  the  younger  man  emphatically. 
But  his  cheeks  were  redder  than  usual !  His  heart  secret 
was  safe,  however,  for  as  a  knock  sounded  at  the  door 
Mark  Manson  snapped  his  note-book  clasp  and  called 
"  Come  in!" 

The  brief  entries  in  his   memorandums  were: 

"  See  Marshal  Ritchie  and  get  private  report  on 
Maxan  and  Mrs.  Mildred  Smiley." 

"  Watch  Steele  and  Maxan." 

"Ah!  Senator,"  cried  Mark  heartily,  as  Ezra  Steele 
followed  his  card.  "  Glad  to  see  you."  The  statesman 
was  soon  at  his  ease.  Jack  Manson's  keen  eye  noted 
the  absence  of  Steele's  "  official  manner."  The  "  carpet- 
bag "  senator  was  serious,  deferential,  and  even  manly 
in  his  intercourse  with  the  man  of  millions. 

"  I  will  take  a  look  through  the  offices,"  said  Jack, 
leaving  the  seniors  to  their  conference, 


FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE.  8 1 

"  Come  back  in  a  half-hour,"  the  New  Yorker  said, 
nodding.  Manson  waited  till  he  observed  the  senator's 
departure  and  rejoined  his  uncle. 

"  Well,  boy,"  Mark  said,  as  his  nephew  entered  the 
room,  "  we  will  have  our  railroad  meeting  to-morrow 
at  four.  I  must  go  over  and  see  your  friends  before 
then;  I  have  some  local  business.  Tell  young  Leaven- 
worth  I  wish  an  hour  with  him  alone.  Bring  him  in 
to-morrow;  we'll  breakfast  here.  By  the  way,  Senator 
Steele  asks  us  all  to  dine  to-morrow  on  behalf  of  Mrs. 
Smiley.  I  will  stay  over  as  I  wish  to  meet  that  lady,  and 
also  this  influential  young  half-foreigner,  Maxan.  I  am 
satisfied  with  you ;  you  have  been  prudent. .  Keep  your 
eyes  open.  Distrust  every  one  here !  " 

"  Why  so?  "  honest  Jack  queried.  "  I  have  seen  no 
underhand  work  here." 

"Precisely!"  calmly  rejoined  old  Mark.  "That 
proves  how  well  '  Secret  Washington'  guards  its  picket 
lines.  The  political  head  of  the  government  is  only  an 
automaton,  pushed  forward  by  the  ruling  party,  and 
pulled  by  factions  to  right  and  left.  '  Secret  Washing- 
ton '  begins  with  a  slight  political  grip  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  and  a  distinct  hold  on  some  of  the  Cabinet. 
The  official  household  of  the  President  has  several 
members  of  this  silent  cabal.  Heads  of  departments 
and  chiefs  of  disbursing  bureaus  are  under  a  continual 
fire  of  intrigue,  and  I  am  told  that  in  the  Senate  and 
House  are  purchasable  men  on  important  committees, 
often  leaders  of  the  opposing  forces,  who  can  make  or 
block  any  game.  They  take  a  graduated  toll  of  all 
beneficial  private  movements,  and  it  has  been  my  experi- 
ence of  forty  years  that  change  of  party  does  not  affect 
the  inside  workings  of  '  Secret  Washington.' 

"The  twenty  thousand  mere  hangers-on  amount  to 
Secret  Washington'  these  men  of 


82  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

power  keep  eacn  other's  guilty  counsels.  All  is  exter- 
nally decorous.  If  you  have  no  special  business  to 
further  here,  you  are  only  welcomed  to  a  walk  through 
the  receptions  and  a  glass  of  '  alleged '  punch.  You  may 
dance  and  drive  and  flirt  and  yet  see  nothing  !  But  in 
private  houses,  in  select  clubs,  in  exclusive  hotels,  the 
varied  members  of  that  great  octopus, '  Secret  Washing- 
ton,' reach  out  and  grasp  all  prey  worth  seizing.  Wine, 
cards,  suppers,  pretty  and  approachable  women,  discreet 
ex-officials,  and  suave  corporation  lawyers;  all  these 
means  are  quietly  used  to  hoodwink  the  man  who  must 
be  led  to  understand  'addition,  division,  and  silence.' 
These  people  of  power  know  that  their  risk  is  great. 
They  always  take  their  pay  in  advance  with  greedy 
hand.  Look  at 'Credit  Mobilier!'  Its-scandals  pulled 
down  several  men  of  national  reputation.  The  out- 
siders scarcely  suffered.  All  in  all,  the  cheapest  way 
is  to  buy  the  right  men,  buy  them  at  once,  and  keep 
them  bought  when  you  have  paid  the  price.  All  these 
'carpet-bag'  senators  and  representatives  will  be  swept 
away  when  the  adroit  Southerners  regain  full  power. 
Therefore  they  fill  their  pockets  now  'to  make  their 
calling  and  election  sure. '  One  word,  Jack.  Be  on 
your  guard  socially.  Have  no  compromising  corre- 
spondence. Say  what  you  wish,  to  man  or  woman, 
alone,  here,  but  no  letter-writing.  Now,  good-night! 
Report  on  tkne." 

The  old  man  mused  as  Jack  wandered  to  his  room 
somewhat  astonished. 

"  I'll  get  out  early  and  see  Police  Marshal  Ritchie 
to-morrow, "  mused  Mark,  as  he  sought  his  couch.  "  He 
will  dig  up  these  two  life  histories  for  money.  Yes, 
money — money  will  do  anything  in  Washington,  if — if 
judiciously  used."  The  old  man's  comments  died  away 
as  he  dropped  into  a  heavy  sleep. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  83 

"  Well,  Mr.  Leavenworth,  what  news  have  you  from 
your  father  ? "  queried  the  financier,  as  he  eyed  the  young 
man  at  breakfast  in  his  rooms  next  day.  Mark  Manson 
had  skimmed  the  financial  and  political  columns  of  the 
latest  journals,  and,  up  betimes,  had  disposed  of  a  dozen 
letters  arriving  in  the  night  mail. 

"All  is  going  well  on  the  Rio  Grande,  sir,"  answered 
the  Texan.  "  There's  a  great  deal  of  excitement  about 
this  presidential  election  on  the  Mexican  side.  The 
borderers  fear  an  annexation  of  the  three  States  of 
Zona  Libre." 

"  Nonsense,"  cried  Mark.  "  Grant  is  a  man  of  peace ; 
but  the  real  advance  will  be  the  projected  railroads.  In 
ten  years  there  will  be  a  railroad  to  Guaymas  and 
Mazatlan  on  the  west;  one  from  Denver  and  El  Paso 
to  the  City  of  Mexico;  another  from  Eagle  Pass  to  the 
table-lands,  and  a  vitally  important  road  from  San 
Antonio  to  Laredo,  tapping  the  Zona.  Libre.  Now,  we 
must  push  our  cross-road  from  Corpus  Christi  to  Laredo 
and  make  the  first  connection.  We  can  control  the  Gulf 
trade  with  Eastern  Mexico.  How  about  the  franchise 
for  our  company? "  Mark's  voice  was  eager. 

"  I  had  letters  yesterday  from  my  father,  under  seal, 
and  here  is  one  for  you."  Leavenworth  produced  it. 
"  I  have  my  father's  power  of  attorney.  The  franchise 
is  passed  and  signed  by  the  Governor,  but  it  is  in  my 
father's  own  name,  with  a  few  of  his  subordinates  as 
directors." 

"  Why  so? "  demanded  Mark  Manson,  his  eyes  flash- 
ing in  angry  surprise. 

The  young  Texan  calmly  answered :  "  I  think  you 
will  find  the  explanation  in  your  letter.  Father  wrote 
me  that  it  was  done  to  avoid  sectional  feelings  and  to 
keep  Northern  names  out  until  the  bill  was  safely  signed. 
The  others  can  then  resign  to  suit  you  and  father," 


84  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Old  Mark  growled:  "  I  see,  yes,  I  see."  Tearing 
open  his  letter,  he  read  it  with  care.  His  face  bright- 
ened. 

"  You  are  right,  Leaven  worth,"  the  capitalist  said. 
"  Now,  I  will  release  you  both  till  two  o'clock.  I  will 
pay  my  respects  then  at  the  Arlington.  Remember, 
the  meeting  of  the  company  wiirbe  here  at  four  sharp. 
I  need  you  both." 

Jack  Manson,  light-hearted,  escaped  to  select  a  floral 
offering  for  the  delightfully  provoking  Hebe,  which 
should  eclipse  even  Maxan's  tribute.  Mark  Manson 
read  his  partner's  letter  over  with  great  deliberation. 

"Yes!  It  is  a  strong  hand  to  play  in  this  game.  Si 
Leavenworth  is  a  genius.  Putting  his  son  and  Jack 
with  himself  and  myself  in  as  directors,  we  can  abso- 
lutely control  Senator  Steele  and  No.  4.  We  will  have 
four  of  the  seven  directors.  We  can  hold  back  the 
land  division  for  years,  and  make  Steele  and  the  hidden 
partner  handle  the  government  through  No.  4.  Old 
Si  offers  to  assign  the  whole  franchise,  in  trust  to  our- 
selves jointly,  to  secure  my  money  advances.  'Further 
details  to  my  representatives.' 

"  Mr.  Jack,  you  shall  go  down  the  moment  the  elec- 
tion is  decided.  Now,  for  Ritchie." 

Mark  whirled  away  in  a  coupe,  and  in  fifteen  minutes 
was  closeted  with  the  Marshal  of  Police  for  the  District 
of  Columbia.  Ten  minutes  of  earnest  conversation 
concluded  the  affair. 

"  I  am  already  almost  in  a  position  to  report,"  said 
the  Chief,  with  the  deepest  attention  to  every  word. 
"But  how  long  do  you  stay  here,  Mr.  Manson?"  he 
queried. 

"  Till  to-morrow  night,  ten  train,"  sententiously  said 
Mark. 

*'  You  have  carte  blanche.     Give  me  all  the  inside 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  85 

facts.  I'll  meet  you  at  Wormley's  at  nine  to-morrow 
evening.  They  will  show  you  to  my  room  at  once. 
I'll  post  the  chief  steward.  Now,  I  will  put  two  or 
three  good  men  on  this  at  once,"  said  Marshal  Ritchie. 

"  Want  any  money?  "  said  Mark. 

"  Not  till  I  earn  it,"  replied  Ritchie,  with  a  quiet 
smile. 

"  That's  the  talk,"  briskly  said  Manson,  as  he  rose  to 
leave. 

"  Now,  Brother  Steele,  I  think  I  can  watch  your 
running  mates  while  the  boy  is  in  Texas,"  Manson 
mused.  "Yes,  I  have  the  whip  hand,  and  must  keep 
it!  I  can  handle  this  with  old  Si  if  no  foul  play  comes 
between  us. 

"  To  the  Arlington,"  commanded  the  financier,  now 
well  satisfied.  As  the  coupe"  reached  its  destination, 
Mark  Manson's  way  was  stopped  by  a  superb  carriage. 
The  financier  started  as  Ezra  Steele  obsequiously 
assisted  a  wonderfully  beautiful  woman  to  alight.  The 
elegant  dark-blue  carriage,  the  splendid  Kentucky 
chestnuts,  the  stylish  trappings,  and  faultlessly  liveried 
servants  were  quickly  noted. 

"  By  Jove,  the  fair  unknown  does  the  thing  in  style. 
What  is  the  game  now  on  the  table?  Never  mind,  I'll 
soon  get  the  key  to  this  enigma,"  growled  the  financier 
as  he  sent  in  his  cards. 

With  graceful  dignity  Mrs.  Mildred  Smiley  met 
Mark  Manson,  after  his  general  welcome  had  subsided. 
Nothing  could  be  more  cordial  than  her  personally 
expressed  invitation  to  dinner.  Half  an  hour  later, 
Mrs.  Smiley's  winning  manners  had  achieved  a  decided 
conquest.  As  Mark  Manson  took  his  leave,  he  was 
followed  by  Mrs.  Marshall  and  the  fair  visitor,  depart- 
ing for  a  round  of  sight-seeing,  with  the  lovely  Katie 
and  Senor  Ramon  Maxan  as  general  cicerone.  There 


86  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

was  a  grateful  flash  in  the  Creole's  eyes  as  he  thanked 
Milly  Smiley  for  her  successful  diplomacy. 

An  afternoon  gained  in  which  to  push  his  careful 
approaches  to  the  unguarded  citadel  of  the  heiress'  heart! 
Well  he  knew  that  the  "  Empress  "  would  thoroughly 
occupy  the  placid  Virginian  widow. 

Jack  Manson  chafed  in  vague  unrest,  as  he  awaited 
the  conclusion  of  Leavenworth's  long  private  confer- 
ence two  hours  later,  with  the  New  York  magnate. 

"  I  am  thoroughly  satisfied  to  go  ahead  with  the 
road,"  Mark  announced,  as  his  nephew  joined  them. 
"Jack,  you  can  run  up  to  Baltimore  with  me  to-night. 
I  can  confer  with  you  on  the  road.  I  find  this  young 
man  has  a  clear  head  for  business,"  he  said  approvingly, 
"  and  you  two  should  work  well  together.  You  must 
go  down  there  as  soon  as  election  is  over.  By  the 
way,  neither  of  you  need  go  into  details  with  Steele 
or  this  Maxan.  After  our  meeting,  I  will  write  my 
views  in  full  direct  to  Rancho  San  Miguel.  Mr. 
Leaven  worth  writes  me  that  his  lawyer  will  be  ready 
at  Corpus  Christi  to  give  you  all  the  general  data  and 
explain  the  scheme  in  full. 

"  You  can  jointly  study  the  matter  here  till  Novem- 
•  ber  ist,  and  Jack,  you  had  better  come  over  to  New 
York  during  the  last  week  and  select  your  outfit  and 
instruments.  I  will  have  the  inside  views  of  the  elec- 
tion by  that  time.  Be  here  at  four ;  I  must  go  over  and 
see  the  President." 

The  alert  old  schemer  departed  for  the  White  House. 
Four  o'clock  found  the  representatives  of  the  embryo 
railroad  in  formal  session. 

Senator  Ezra  Steele,  with  his  confidential  secretary, 
Mark  Manson,  grave  and  watchful  at  the  head  of  the 
table,  Leavenworth,  as  his  father's  representative,  with 
papers  and  accounts  ready,  and  Jack  Manson  eager  to 


FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE.  87 

learn  of  his  future  business.  An  hour's  careful  discus- 
sion and  examination  of  papers  sufficed  to  place  upon 
the  records  the  powers  of  the  younger  men  and  a  res- 
olution for  a  formal  meeting  of  organization  at  Corpus 
Christi.  Mr.  John  Hanson's  appointment  as  Chief 
Engineer  was  duly  made,  and  the  accounts  of  the  undi- 
vided rancho,  bands  of  cattle  in  joint  ownership  thereon, 
and  transportation  contracts  of  joint  interest  were 
passed  upon  and  audited. 

"  Not  so  bad,  Senator,"  said  Mark  Manson,  as  James 
Leavenworth  read  the  final  report  of  his  father,  author- 
izing each  interest  to  draw  on  A.  R.  Chisholm  &  Co. 
for  eighty  thousand  dollars  each,  as  the  yearly  revenue 
of  the  four  shares. 

"Wait  till  we  sweep  in  the  Zona  Libre,  Mr.  Chair- 
man," hopefully  remarked  the  statesman. 

In  closing,  Mark  Manson  announced  the  fact  that  the 
franchise  was  secured,  the  bill  having  been  duly  passed. 
"  It  is  the  intention  of  Mr.  Leavenworth  to  assign  the 
franchise  and  lands  jointly  to  himself  and  to  me,  on  the 
completion  of  the  organization,  as  required  by  law  in 
Texas." 

"Why  so?  "  demanded  Steele,  his  cheeks  flushing  in 
surprise.  "Ah!  we  must  have  a  legal  directory  of 
seven,"  Mark  answered  firmly — "  Leavenworth,  his 
son,  Mr.  John  Manson,  and  myself.  You  can  name 
three,  probably  Chisholm,  yourself,  and  anyone  you 
name  down  there." 

"But  it  is  hardly  fair,"  protested  the  wary  senator. 
"  You  have  the  balance  of  power,  and  you  tie  up  the 
lands  we  earn." 

"  See  here,  Senator,"  said  Mark,  almost  sharply, 
"  Leavenworth  is  land  and  cattle  poor  and  has  much 
money  tied  up  in  his  Rio  Grande  steamboat  line.  He 
needs  all  his  capital.  You,  I  presume,  are  taxed  heavily 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

to  handle  the  legislature  of  your  State  and  effect  your 
re-election,  as  well  as  for  strict  party  contributions." 
He  paused.  "  That's  true!  "  replied  Ezra  Steele  with 
a  groan.  "Half  this  year's  dividend  goes  for  that, and 
my  personal  expenses  here  are  enormous."  He  secretly 
thought  of  the  "  Empress,"  a  veritable  money  devourer. 

"Well!  No.  4  (your  proxy  giver)  can  not  openly 
raise  funds,  now,  you  admit.  I  am  left  to  procure  alone 
three  millions  of  dollars  to  build  this  two  hundred 
miles  of  railway.  I  can  get  the  funds  in  New  York, 
but  the  control  must  be  in  my  hands.  I  insist  that  each 
of  my  enterprises  shall  stand  on  its  own  bottom.  Mr. 
James  Leavenworth  here  has  a  duplicate  of  his  father's 
letter  to  me,  agreeing  to  this.  I  authorize  my  nephew 
to  draw  on  me  for  all  the  preliminary  expenses  up  to 
two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  I'll  advance 
this  without  interest.  When  my  nephew  has  ridden 
over  the  line  in  reconnoissance,  and  conferred  with 
partner  Leavenworth,  on  completion  of  the  organiza- 
tion and  assignment  of  the  franchise,  I  will  put  up 
sixteen  thousand  dollars  a  mile  for  the  road,  and  also 
send  rolling-stock  down  on  my  own  credit.  But  we 
must  be  unanimous.  Otherwise,  we  stop  here.  I  must 
see  my  way  clear!" 

Senator  Steele  sighed  and  yielded  with  good  grace! 
In  ten  minutes  a  resolution  spread  on  the  records 
closed  the  day's  work.  "  We  can  begin  work  on  the 
road  by  January  ist,  thanks  to  your  Texan  climate," 
said  Mark  Manson  in  conclusion.  "  There  will  be  three 
of  us  here — you,  No.  4,  and  I.  When  Congress  adjourns 
you  can  run  over  to  Texas,  after  going  South,  and  I 
will  confirm  anything  jointly  signed  by  Leavenworth, 
you,  and  my  nephew." 

"  That  is  fair,"  said  the  mollified  senator.  "  Now, 
gentlemen,  to  dinner!"  The  formal  meeting  broke  up. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  89 

Mark  Manson,  well  pleased,  awaited  his  social  debut  at 
the  exquisite  palace  of  the  "  Empress,"  and  prepared 
for  his  departure.  "  After  I  see  Ritchie,  I  am  all  ready 
for  the  trip." 

Senator  Steele  quietly  slipped  down  to  the  general 
telegraph  office. 

"  The  old  pawnbroker,"  he  muttered ;  "  this  is  his 
day,  ours  is  to-morrow.  There'll  be  a  vacancy  soon  in 
that  directory,  and  Maxan  shall  have  it.  That  will  give 
us  the  balance  of  power."  He  dashed  off  a  despatch  to 
Baltimore,  which  called  together  the  secret  confederates. 
Its  words  were  simple. 

Be  here  at  eight  to-morrow  evening.  Bring  everybody. 
Carriages  for  you  at  the  station.  M.  leaves  to-night. 

"  That  will  do,"  chuckled  Steele,  "  I  will  have  them 
all  out  of  town  and  scattered,  by  daylight,  save  Chis- 
holm.  Young  Leavenworth  must  not  meet  his  father's 
lawyer  here.  I  will  checkmate  you,  Mr.  Mark  Man- 
son.  If  this  election  goes  right,  I  will  see  that  the 
Federal  officials  and  judges  west  of  the  Nueces  River 
are  all  our  own  people." 

The  evening  hour  reunited  the  circle  at  Mrs.  Smiley's 
table.  In  a  blaze  of  light,  the  grand  room  was  em- 
bowered with  choicest  flowers,  sweet  music  softly  steal- 
ing in  from  a  hidden  orchestra,  and  there  the  "  Empress" 
welcomed  her  guests.  The  tables  sparkled  with  crystal 
and  plate.  To  sweet  Katie  Leavenworth,  in  the  eager 
enjoyment  of  a  novice,  the  scene  was  a  fairyland. 

Jack  Manson's  eyes  shone  tenderly  as  he  gazed  on 
the  unconquered  darling  of  his  heart  in  her  ravishing 
toilet. 

Her  loveliness  in  the  rich  robes  was  a  revelation. 
The  ardent  young  engineer  marvelled  at  the  superb 
beauty  of  the  animated  Rose  of  Texas.  The  brilliant 


90  FOR    LIFE    AXD   LOVE. 

hostess,  with  Mark  Manson  and  Mrs.  Marshall  on  her 
right  and  left,  assiduously  labored  to  charm  the  quiet 
Virginia  widow.  Mark  Manson's  keen  eyes  glanced 
often  around  the  table.  He  made  a  mental  note  of  the 
graceful  adroitness  with  which  Mrs.  Smiley  parried  the 
few  but  pertinent  queries  of  Mrs.  Marshall  as  to  her 
family  connections  in  the  historic  circles  of  the  South. 

"  Fights  shy,  smart  woman! "  ruminated  the  capitalist. 

He  did  not  fail  to  note  Ramon  Maxan's  carefully 
modulated  devotion  to  Katie  Leavenworth. 

Senator  Steele  was  exhibiting  his  "  grand  cere- 
monial "  manner  to  Miss  Alice  Leavenworth,  and  Jack 
Manson,  with  frank  kindness,  watched  over  Gertrude 
Marshall,  save  when  his  roving  eyes  would  stray  across 
and  note  the  flushed  cheeks  of  the  woman  he  was  daily 
learning  to  love  more.  Maxan's  musically  soft  utter- 
ances reached  only  the  beautiful  partner  whose  attention 
he  engrossed. 

"Very  neatly  done,"  thought  Mark  Manson.  "  The 
hostess  is  making  smooth  the  Creole's  path.  We  will 
see!  What's  her  motive?"  and  his  gray  eyes  were 
keenly  alert  under  the  bushy  brows.  "  This  a  sort  of 
queer  social  triumvirate,"  the  old  man  concluded. 

"  Ritchie  may  give  me  the  points!  " 

The  musical  chime  of  the  ormolu  mantel  clock 
recalled  Mark  Manson  as  the  hour  of  eight  sounded. 
In  a  quarter  of  an  hour  the  capitalist  accompanied  the 
ladies  to  the  drawing-rooms. 

"  I  regret  my  early  departure,  madam,"  he  said,  as  he 
thought  of  his  appointment. 

"  Pray  give  me  a  few  moments,"  replied  the  hostess, 
indicating  an  alcove. 

"Now  what's  the  game!"  thought  Mark. 

"  In  my  isolated  position  I  have  occasional  business 
in  New  York  in  financial  circles.  Might  I,  at  some 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  9! 

time,  should  I  need  it,  trouble  you  for  your  experienced 
advice?" 

"With  pleasure,  madam,"  rejoined  Mark,  as  he 
quietly  ruminated:  "I  can  watch  her  thus  from  time 
to  time."  Carefully  presenting  his  residence  and  office 
cards,  Mark  summoned  Jack  to  his  side. 

"  I  regret  to  take  one  of  your  guests  away,  but  I 
have  some  private  business  to  close  with  my  nephew." 

Jack  Manson's  hurried  adieu  to  fair  Katie  and  cere- 
monious leave-taking  of  the  radiant  hostess  left  him 
free  to  join  his  uncle,  already  in  the  carriage.  The 
last  glimpse  of  the  drawing-rooms  showed  him  Ramon 
Maxan  at  Katie's  side,  bending  on  her  his  brilliant  eyes 
in  undisguised  admiration. 

He  joyously  thought:  "To-morrow  I  am  free  and  I 
will  keep  this  ardent  stranger  from  her  side." 

The  carriage  drew  up  at  Wormley's.  "  I  have  to  see 
a  man  a  few  moments  here,  Jack,"  said  his  uncle.  "Wait 
at  my  room,  and  we  can  have  a  chat  as  far  as  Balti- 
more." 

"  Well,  Chief  ? "  said  Mark,  as  a  steward  showed  him 
into  a  private  room.  Marshal  Ritchie  was  awaiting  him. 

"There  you  are,  sir!"  answered  the  one  man  who 
held  the  social  and  private  secrets  of  Washington  in  his 
unofficial  note-books.  He  handed  a  concisely  written 
document  to  his  visitor.  Mark  Manson's  stern  face 
never  changed  a  line  as  he  eagerly  ran  down  the  sen- 
tences. 

"  Very  good,"  he  said,  depositing  the  paper  in  a  long 
pocket-book.  He  calmly  spread  out  a  check  and  seized 
a  pen. 

"How  much?"  was  his  laconic  query.  The  official 
pencilled  three  figures  on  a  blotting  pad.  Manson 
dashed  off  a  check  for  five  hundred  dollars,  to  his  own 
order,  and  endorsed  it. 


92 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


"Cash  that  at  the  hotel  office,  your  name  will  not 
appear  then  on  the  voucher.  I  may  need  you  again. 
By  the  way,  keep  an  eye  on  those  two,  up  to  Novem- 
ber 1 5th  or  December  ist.  I  will  send  you  the  same 
amount  in  cu-rrency  on  receiving  your  final  report." 
The  Chief  bowed  his  thanks,  and  before  he  could  speak 
Mark  was  half  way  down  the  stair. 

Leaning  back  on  the  cushions,  the  oid  fox  communed 
with  himself  as  he  sped  to  his  hotel: 

"As  I  thought — she  is  a  high-class  adventuress,  equally 
intimate  with  Steele  and  this  Maxan,  a  strong  influence 
behind  her.  Her  hospitality  is  inspired.  The  motive? 
I  have  it.  Cutting  off  the  Leavenworth  influence  from 
me,  Steele  and  No.  4  could  control  the  company  and  the 
road."  The  dinner  incidents  returned  to  him.  "And 
Maxan,  in  Steele's  interest,  stalks  the  brother  by  mak- 
ing love  to  the  sister.  I'll  warn  Jack  and  break  that 
up." 

The  carriage  halted.  Ten  minutes  later,  the  uncle 
and  nephew  were  speeding  to  the  railway  station. 

"Jack,  my  boy!"  began  Mark,  as  the  lights  of  the 
capital  receded,  "  There  is  some  underhanded  work 
under  way." 

The  younger  man  gazed  attentively  at  his  principal, 
in  the  seclusion  of  their  state-room. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  uncle?  "  he  eagerly  asked. 

"  I  think  you  will  need  to  keep  your  eyes  open 
and  be  on  your  guard  here,  socially,  as  well  as  in  my 
business.  There  is  a  mysterious  connection  between 
Steele,  this  dashing  Creole,  and  the  handsome  hostess. 
I  will  not  tell  you  all  yet.  You  shall  be  posted  before 
you  leave.  Keep  cool.  Do  not  give  Steele  your  con- 
fidence. Be  perfectly  courteous  with  Maxan  and  see  as 
much  of  him  as  you  can.  He  is  a  nervous,  brilliant 
fellow  of  tropical  impatience.  Cool  and  steady,  always 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  93 

be  on  your  guard,  and  let  him  do  the  leading  out!  He 
will  surely  commit  himself. 

"  All  three  show  a  little  too  much  interest  in  the 
Leavenworths  and  Marshalls.  The  air  is  full  of  ripen- 
ing schemes  only  waiting  the  election  triumph.  Your 
whole  career  in  Texas  rests  on  your  keeping  nearer  to 
young  Leavenworth  and  his  sisters  than  this  Mexican 
ranchero.  He's  a  romantic  feature,  my  boy.  Cling 
closely  to  your  comrade.  Join  in  all  the  general  hospi- 
talities and  break  up  any  tete-a-tetes  between  Maxan 
and  Miss  Katie. 

"  If  anything  occurs  of  great  importance,  come  at 
once  to  New  York  and  see  me.  I  will  write  you 
through  my  bankers  here,  so  there  can  be  no  spying. 
Don't  antagonize  Steele.  I  need  him  till  after  the 
legal  organization  of  the  road. 

"  Then  I'll  keep  the  whip  hand,"  said  Mark  grimly. 
"Now,  here's  Baltimore,  boy.  Don't  forget."  Jack 
pressed  his  uncle's  hand. 

"  I'll  not  forget,"  he  answered,  as  he  sprang  off  the 
train. 


BOOK  II. 

THE    RIO    GRANDE    COMPANY. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THAT     MYSTERIOUS     COMPANY A     PAPER     RAILROAD 

— THE    SECRET  MEETING — ILL-GOTTEN  GAINS — 
MILDRED  SMILEY'S  FALSE  LOVER. 

"  I  THINK  I  will  follow  Mr.  Ramon  Maxan's  trail 
pretty  closely  now,"  remarked  Jack  Manson,  as  he 
sauntered  out  of  the  Ebbitt,  in  all  the  glory  of  a  faultless 
toilet  next  morning. 

«  That  florid  caballero  must  be  up  early  to  outwit  me 
to-day,"  mused  the  new  railway  director  as  he  entered 
the  florist's  shop. 

"  I  want  a  splendid  basket  of  flowers — your  best. 
Something  like  that,"  said  Jack,  approaching  a  beauti- 
ful corbeille  just  finished,  glowing  in  its  superb  fresh- 
ness of  vivid  color  and  wealth  of  perfume. 

The  direction  of  the  note  could  not  escape  him. 
"  Miss  Katie  Leavenworth.  The  Arlington." 

"  By  Jove !  He  is  wide-awake  !  It  may  yet  be 
more  than  a  '  battle  of  flowers '  between  us." 

Manson's  quickness  of  manner  and  reckless  liberality 
was  not  lost  on  the  florist. 

"  That's  No.  2,"  joyfully  cried  the  smug  German  as 
he  pocketed  a  ten-dollar  bill.  "  I  wish  the  young  lady 
more  lovers — all  basket  men!"  chuckled  the  trades- 
man, as  he  bent  over  his  roses.  "  I  will  send  this  lad's 


FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE.  95 

over  first,  for  the  other  fellow  looks  like  a  handsome 
gambler." 

Jack's  tall  form  had  vanished  up  the  staircase  of  the 
Arlington  before  a  single  rose  was  broken,  but  his 
basket  soon  followed  him, by  a  neat  transference  of  notes. 

At  the  piano  in  the  salon,  sweet  Katie  met  her  visitor 
with  the  flush  of  life's  spring  on  her  bright  face. 

A  wild  thought  made  Jack's  pulses  bound.  "  Shall 
I  speak  now? "  His  throbbing  pulses  were  far  quicker 
than  his  words. 

Some  guardian  angel  of  prudence  whispered  "  Wait!" 

Reflecting  upon  the  virtue  of  punctuality,  his  strategy 
was  victorious  in  gaining  the  young  nymph's  consent 
to  share  a  morning  ride. 

"  I  will  be  ready  when  you  bring  the  horses.  It  is  a 
day  of  days  for  a  drive,"  cried  the  happy  girl,  as  she 
thanked  him  for  the  lovely  flowers. 

Half  an  hour  later,  as  Manson  tossed  the  reins  of  a 
nonpareil  pair  of  horses  to  the  waiting  negro,  Ramon 
Maxan  was  standing  with  the  Texan  heiress  in  the 
drawing-room  of  the  hostelry  as  Manson  entered. 

A  dark  gleam  flashed  from  the  Creole's  eyes.  "  I 
regret  an  engagement,"  said  the  fair  Katie,  with  a 
glance  at  Manson  which  was  a  mute  appeal  for 
departure. 

The  unsuspecting  Jack,  happy  at  heart,  failed  to  note 
the  coldness  of  the  greeting  his  rival  accorded  him. 

In  leaving  ceremoniously,  Ramon  Maxan's  quick  eye 
caught  a  view  of  the  prancing  steeds  below,  as  well  as 
noted  the  duplicate  floral  offerings  displayed  on  the 
centre  table. 

Behind  the  plate  glass  of  the  reading-room,  his 
fierce  black  eyes  rested  on  a  choice  rose  nestling  on 
Katie's  breast  as  she  merrily  waved  her  hand  in  adieu 
to  the  ladies  on  the  balcony. 


96  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  Madre  de  Dios!  I  swear  I  will  have  a  drop  of  that 
Yankee  cur's  heart-blood  for  every  speck  of  color  in 
that  rose."  He  stalked,  with  gloomy  brow,  to  the 
hotel  cafe,  as  the  thoroughbreds  darted  away. 

"Ah!  I'll  break  up  that  family  party  yet.  If  I 
can  get  that  girl  in  my  power,  she  shall  wait  on  Pan- 
chita.  Curse  them  all!"  He  clinched  his  teeth  as  he 
set  down  his  glass. 

"  I  will  dog  that  fool  over  the  border.  If  Ximenes 
can  not  fix  him,  Ramon  *  El  Jaguar '  must  do  it 
himself." 

Out  beyond  the  now  rising  stately  palaces  of  the 
"later  set,"  over  the  hills  and  far  away  in  happy 
unconsciousness,  Jack  Manson  drove,  followed  by 
Maxan's  curse. 

At  his  side,  Katie  Leaven  worth,  in  awakened  interest, 
listened  to  stories  of  the  Far  West  where  the  Sioux 
crouch  behind  the  sedgy  grass  of  the  Platte. 

Her  cavalier  feared  to  linger  on  nearer  topics,  but  his 
heart  was  beating  high.  He  artfully  disclosed  his  final 
orders  for  Texas. 

"That  will  be  delightful!"  merrily  cried  the  fair 
maid.  "You  will  like  Texas!  Jimmy  can  show  you 
horses  there!  Not  tame  horses, — our  prairies  are  the 
world's  riding  school!"  she  proudly  added.  "And 
such  brave  men!  You  will  like  them.  They  will  give 
you  a  hearty  welcome." 

"  And  you?  "  said  Jack,  his  eyes  meeting  hers  with  an 
expression  which  made  the  rich  blood  mantle  her  cheeks. 

"Oh!  certainly,"  calmly  replied  the  girl,  suddenly 
interested  in  a  glimpse  of  far-off  scenery,  "  I  shall  do 
the  honors  of  San  Miguel  with  pleasure,  for  Brother 
Jimmy's  sake." 

The    mischievous    words     implied    a    grave  doubt. 

"  And  for  my  own  sake,  too?  "  persisted  Jack, 


FOR   LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


97 


"  We  will  see.  If  you  make  a  good  Texan,  I  may 
even  go  as  far  as  that,"  answered  the  pretty  tease,  look- 
ing frankly  at  him  with  wilfully  solemn  eyes. 

"  I  hope  I  will  be  a  pretty  fair  Texan,"  said  Jack,  as 
he  gazed  between  the  horses'  heads. 

"They  are  the  bravest,  most  generous  men  in  the 
wide  world,"  replied  Katie,  with  an  air  of  great 
decision. 

The  rosy  hours  chased  each  other  all  too  quickly  for 
Jack's  ardent  heart.  For  he  dared  to  dream  that  his 
friendly  little  monitress  would  aid  him  in  the  dim  future, 
to  become  "  a  good  Texan." 

As  the  tired  steeds  drew  up  before  the  hotel,  Manson 
had  gained  new  love  of  the  great  border  State  from  the 
romantic  girl. 

"  I  feel  that  I  am  quite  a  Texan  already,"  said  Jack 
meaningly,  as  he  escorted  the  damsel  to  the  door. 
"  You  must  wait  a  long,  long  time  yet,"  was  the  last 
•bit  of  wisdom  falling  from  Katie's  rosy  lips. 

While  Jack  and  his  new  fellow-director  sat  and 
smoked  after  their  dinner,  a  strange  coterie  had  gathered 
in  the  retired  rooms  of  Milly  Smiley's  palace.  There 
was  no  sign  of  festivity.  Although  a  richly-furnished 
sideboard  tempted  the  wine-drinker,  and  the  blue  smoke 
of  Havanas  clouded  the  air,  there  were  no  servants 
present. 

Mrs.  Mildred  Smiley  meanwhile  ornamented  her  box 
at  the  theatre,  and  only  a  circle  of  stern,  resolute  men 
gathered  around  a  long  table  littered  with  papers. 

Dissimilar  in  speech,  garb,  and  manner,  the  varying 
dialects  and  off-hand  gestures  of  the  speakers  suggested 
a  band  of  modernized  pirates.  Beard  and  hair  worn  at 
will,  and  the  quaint  garb  of  the  Southwest  gave  a  semi- 
rustic  appearance  to  the  gathering. 

But  one  common  thought  animated  all  these  men! 


98  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Gold!  Easily  gained — the  fruit  of  sly  conspiracy, 
open  adventure,  cunning  fraud,  concealed  crime,  and 
coldly  plotted  violence — The  King  of  the  World !  Gold ! 

It  was  the  inner  cabal  of  the  mysterious  Rio  Grande 
Company. 

At  their  head,  the  glow  of  avarice  kindling  his  faded 
eyes,  watchful  Ezra  Steele  presided,  mindful  of  his  sen- 
atorial toga.  Papers,  schedules,  accounts,  and  vouchers 
lay  before  him,  the  carefully  guarded  returns  of  the 
other  conspirators.  Ramon  Maxan,  a  hungry  look  in 
his  dark,  eager  eyes,  sat  beside  Steele  and  made  private 
notes  in  a  long  memorandum-book. 

Behind  the  glasses  around  the  board,  were  ranged 
five  eager,  watchful  listeners  of  Steele's  cold  sentences. 
For  the  different  leaders  of  a  huge  nefarious  traffic 
were  now  "  reporting  results  "  to  the  man  who  covered 
their  deeds  at  the  national  capital. 

Chisholm,  a  lean  wolfish-faced  New  Orleans  banker, 
with  straggling  mustache  and  shrunken  shoulders, 
was  an  "  unreconstructed  "  secessionist.  Cool  and  wary 
enough  to  guard  his  own  head,  he  had  lingered  after  Gen- 
eral Mansfield  Lovell  left  New  Orleans  helpless  under 
the  guns  of  Farragut's  fleet.  Chisholm  soothed  his 
heart  wounds  by  illicit  operations  in  cotton,  dallying 
also  with  the  foreign  consuls  and  directing  covert 
trade  between  the  rebels  of  the  Gulf  States  and  the 
thieving  U.  S.  volunteer  quartermasters  during  the 
occupation.  Rich,  haughty,  and  implacable,  he  was  silent 
and  skilful  in  his  arts.  An  accidental  connection  by 
marriage  with  the  secret  partner  (No.  4)  gave  him 
great  power  in  the  company.  His  knowledge  of  the 
Spanish  Main,  his  comradeship  with  smuggler  and 
blockade  runner,  and  his  alliances  with  the  land  pirates 
of  the  Rio  Grande  made  him  invaluable. 

While  his  credit  and  financial  ability  were  remark- 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  99 

able,  his  well-conducted  business  house,  and  his  mem- 
bership of  the  Crescent  Club  placed  him  on  a  high 
social  pinnacle. 

Thoroughly  en  rapport  with  the  "carpet-bag"  govern- 
ors, the  inner  Custom-House  ring,  and  possessing 
mysterious  powers  over  the  mails  and  telegraph  systems, 
Chisholm's  drafts  covered  many  queer  transactions, 
whose  inner  details  were  only  explained  by  the  trebly 
protected  ciphers  and  broken  correspondence  of  message 
and  letter. 

A  living  link  between  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Circle,  the  Kuklux  Klan,  the  brummagem  State  Gov- 
ernment, and  the  National  Capital,  he  held  in  his 
power  Senator  Ezra  Steele  and  Partner  No.  4,  for  the 
one  filled  a  national  place  at  his  sufferance,  and  smooth 
Senator  Steele  could  only  obtain  his  secret  dividends 
through  Chisholm's  innocent-looking  banker's  drafts. 

Not  an  operation,  from  buying  a  newspaper,  wreck- 
ing a  railroad,  "removing  a  man,"  or  bribing  a  judge  or 
jury,  could  be  devised  in  which  the  sallow,  linen-clad 
banker  was  not  an  expert. 

Cautious  in  speech,  sparing  in  his  use  of  liquors,  he 
was  a  desperate  gamester,  a  veteran  duelist,  and  as 
deadly  as  a  rattlesnake  blinded  with  summer  heat.  He 
was  the  depositary  of  the  secret  revenues  of  the  inner 
clique. 

Near  the  banker  sat  Don  Patricio  Foley  of  Mon- 
terey, an  oily,  round-faced,  cunning  Irishman ;  a  veteran 
of  Zona  Libre  adventures,  the  trusted  agent  of  the 
defunct  Confederacy  in  smuggling  cotton  out  via  Bagdad 
and  Matamoras  during  the  Civil  War. 

A  jolly  hypocrite,  a  free  liver;  his  splendid  eyrie 
near  Monterey  was  visited  by  the  priests  of  Mexico, 
now  expelled  from  their  livings.  It  was  the  rallying 
place  of  revolutionist,  bandit,  and  smuggler. 


IOO  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

A  dinner,  "tertulia,"  or  "fandango"  always  awaited 
the  welcome  guests.  Horses,  guides,  guards,  and  outfit 
were  there  available,  where  a  thousand  "  peons  "  toiled 
with  his  flocks,  herds,  and  tropic  fields. 

Don  Patricio's  children  reflected  his  pride  and  the 
faded  beauties  of  their  Mexican  mother,  Dona  Anita, 
whose  dowry  was  the  splendid  hacienda. 

In  close  conference  with  the  Mexican-Irishman  sat 
a  tall,  military-looking  man,  whose  foreign  air  was  not 
all  hidden  by  the  semi-frontier  garb  he  wore.  Olaf 
Nordenskiold  was  a  Dane.  His  eagle  eye  and  beak-like 
nose  gave  him  the  air  of  the  "  rapacidae."  For  years 
he  had  been  the  leading  lawyer  in  Western  Texas. 
Thanks  to  a  fatal  duel  at  Gibraltar,  he  left  the  Danish 
navy  without  the  king's  permission.  Gaining  shelter  at 
New  Orleans,  he  became  an  intimate  of  Chisholm,  and 
attained  prominence  in  New  Orleans  circles  by  study- 
ing law  and  his  marriage  with  a  rich  Creole  heiress,  who 
was  captivated  by  the  university  polish  of  the  bold 
foreigner.  A  fatal  political  affray  before  the  war  sent 
the  Dane,  with  fresh  blood  on  his  hands,  to  Western 
Texas  as  a  noted  refugee.  Throughout  the  war  of  the 
rebellion,  the  wandering  lawyer,  now  a  widower,  used 
his  many-sided  skill  in  directing  the  Rio  Grande  block- 
ade running,  smuggling  in  of  supplies  from  Liverpool, 
via  Bermuda,  and  cotton  exchanges  with  England. 
Chisholm  furnished  capital,  old  Si  Leavenworth  pro- 
tection and  transportation,  and  Don  Patricio  Foley 
Mexican  aid  and  financial  co-operation. 

It  was  easy  for  the  Dane,  as  Si  Leavenworth's 
trusted  counselor,  to  carry  on,  after  Lee's  surrender,  the 
money-making  work  of  the  old  associates. 

It  was  his  fertile  brain  which  evolved  the  neat  trick 
of  dividing  a  great  balance  in  Fraser,  Trenholm  & 
Co.'s  hand  lying  at  Liverpool  at  the  "surrender," several 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  IOI 

ship-loads  of  cotton  at  Bermuda,  and  funds  and  stores 
in  Mexico  in  Foley's  hands  between  the  four  associated 
rebels  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

They  became  residuary  legatees  of  the  Confederate 
States  of  America!  Nordenskiold's  share  was  deducted 
as  counsel  fees.  After  this  great  windfall,  he  sug- 
gested a  continued  robbery  of  the  two  governments  of 
Mexico  and  the  United  States.  Far  safer  it  was  for 
Si  Leavenworth,  Chisholm,  and  Don  Patricio  to  leave 
the  active  guidance  of  this  dangerous  traffic  to  the  Dane 
than  to  expose  their  local  respectability.  Having  easily 
obtained  amnesty  through  Senator  Ezra  Steele,  the 
Danish  go-between  was  now  free  to  practice  his  legal 
arts  at  the  State  and  National  capitals  and  to  cover  the 
deeds  of  the  three,  now  protected  in  secret  by  Chisholm's 
"  loyal  "  relative  partner,  No.  4. 

Matchless  before  the  courts  in  intrigue  and  influence, 
the  refugee  lawyer,  in  his  favorite  haunt  of  "Joe 
Garcia's  saloon,"  at  Corpus  Christi,  safely  handled 
those  relations  with  bravos,  cattle  thieves,  "regulators," 
desperados,  and  other  agents  of  the  upper  Rio  Grande 
thieves,  which  would  have  brought  any  other  man 
before  "Judge  Lynch." 

Co-operating  with  smooth  Don  Patricio,  the  Dane's 
rancho  in  the  interior  and  bachelor  home  on  the 
blue  Gulf  sheltered  the  rich  fugitives  of  Mexican 
ajiarchy. 

Strangest  of  all,  even  in  his  cups,  in  long  nightly 
battles  for  fortune  behind  the  painted  cards,  and  in  wild 
dissipation,  Nordenskiold's  professional  faith  was  kept 
inviolate,  and  his  stern  self-repression  safely  guarded  the 
dark  secrets  of  a  thousand  swindles  and  a  hundred 
desperate  crimes. 

Purveying  to  the  vices  of  others,  he  calmly  enjoyed 
his  intellectual  superiority  and  watched  his  puppets 


IO2  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

move  on  to  fortune,  ruin,  or  death,  without  a  sigh  or 
a  single  regret. 

At  the  lower  end  of  the  table,  Beriah  Mott,  the  local 
money  agent  of  Chisholm  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  a  bluff,  resolute  ex-rebel,  smoked  as  he  gazed 
on  Bill  Rains,  a  raffish-looking  Deputy  Collector  of 
Customs,  who  was  the  agent  of  two  of  the  great  mer- 
chants of  Brownsville,  Texas,  and  Matamoras,  Mexico, 
who  conducted  the  foreign  business  and  correspondence 
of  the  mystic  company. 

While  the  syndicate  worked  noiselessly,  John  Park 
and  Jerry  Mulvain  (Bill  Rains'  partners)  visited 
Havana,  New  Orleans,  Europe,  or  the  City  of  Mexico, 
in  the  open  operations  of  an  extensive  trade,  appar- 
ently honest. 

"  We've  nearly  all  the  professions  except  divinity 
represented  here,"  said  jolly  Don  Patricio  as  Senator 
Steele  rapped  the  assemblage  to  order,  and  he  set  away 
his  empty  punch  glass  with  a  sigh. 

In  order,  the  secret  agents  gave  in  their  reports  of 
the  private  operations  of  the  year. 

Every  eye  kindled  as  the  record  of  the  different 
departments  cheered  the  devotees  of  the  modern 
Golden  Calf. 

Don  Patricio  Foley,  with  a  grin,  handed  out  the 
invoice  returns  of  a  shipment  of  arms  and  munitions 
smuggled  into  Mexico  to  aid  an  aspiring  secret  revolu- 
tionary general.  Checking  off  from  a  list,  he  tossed  to 
Chisholm  a  bundle  of  accepted  drafts  on  American 
bankers. 

"  That's  a  good  job,  gentlemen!"  he  chuckled.  "  To 
swindle  Uncle  Sam  out  of  the  transportation  to  New 
Laredo  from  New  Orleans,  and  the  Mexican  general 
government  out  of  these  funds  to  pay  for  them. 
General  Rocha  had  'custom-house  certificates'  issued 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  103 

and  his  friend  Ceballos  cashed  them  in  clean  silver 
dollars  from  the  general  funds.  I'll  take  a  receipt  on 
account  for  these.  Mr.  Beriah  Mott  received  the  silver 
through  his  agent  at  Laredo." 

"  Yes,"  broke  in  Mott,  "  and  my  Laredo  man  got 
free  transportation  and  a  guard  of  soldiers  to  San 
Antonio  for  the  silver.  He  gets  a  pass  on  our  steamers 
and  his  commission  you  will  see  in  my  accounts." 

"Very  good,"  beamed  Steele.  "Now,  Mr.  Nor- 
denskiold,  what  have  you  to  offer  ?" 

"  I  have  the  accounts  here  of  all  the  shipments  of  the 
year  of  cigars,  cognac,  silks,  and  velvets,  as  well  as 
ordered  goods  coming  over  by  Bagdad  and  the  Zona 
Libre.  Here  are  Park  and  Mulvain's  returns.  Mr. 
Rains  has  their  final  account,  and  I  have  deposited  our 
balance  with  Mr.  Chisholm  and  have  his  certificates  of 
deposit. 

"  All  these  goods  have  been  hauled  to  the  railroad  or 
their  shipping  point  in  army  transportation  going  back 
empty,  for  which  Si  Leavenworth  arranged,  on  the  sly, 
with  the  government  freight  agents. 

"  Here  is  a  return  of  the  Mexican  stock  which  was 
run  over  to  my  ranch  and  to  San  Miguel,  and  a  receipt 
from  Leavenworth  of  its  value.  I  will  give  you  mine 
now.  It  has  been  a  great  year  for  stock  and  we  have 
had  no  serious  trouble  in  the  courts." 

In  the  general  buzz  of  congratulation,  with  twinkling 
eyes,  the  chairman  addressed  Chisholm : 

"  Here  are  my  reports  of  New  Orleans  operations," 
quietly  remarked  Chisholm.  "  We  have  handled  several 
shipping  ventures,  half  a  dozen  'bonded  cargoes'  out,  all 
successful.  The  receipts  and  insurances  are  all  tallied 
up,"  said  he,  handing  Steele  a  statement.  "I  have  paid 
the  New  Orleans  custom  house  the  usual  commissions. 
I  have  here  the  account  of  expenses  at  Havana,  Tarn- 


104  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

pico,  and  Key  West.  Mr.  Rains  has  paid  the  amounts 
due  our  agents  on  the  Gulf,  and  'squared'  the  Special 
Treasury  Agent  on  his  annual  visit!" 

In  an  hour  the  whole  field,  from  Hamburg,  Havre, 
and  Liverpool,  to  Key  West,  the  Spanish  main,  and 
Mexico,  and  the  Gulf  and  New  Orleans  operations,  was 
covered. 

Rains  and  Mott  followed  Chisholm's  rapid  and 
accurate  calculations  of  individual  balances. 

The  hawk-eyed  Dane,  with  the  senator,  audited  and 
approved,  while  Don  Patricio  nodded  affably  at  the 
conclusion  of  the  labors. 

While  Chisholm  prepared  a  series  of  drafts  and 
checks,  the  latter-day  bandits  sipped  their  wine,  and 
over  their  cups  enjoyed  their  smuggled  Cabanas. 

"  I  have  dated  all  these  drafts  and  checks  variously, 
and  used  my  New  Orleans  forms.  We  have  had 
time,"  said  the  banker,  "  to  figure  this  all  up  at  Balti- 
more. If  there  is  any  discrepancy,  you  can  give  each 
other  currency  or  your  own  checks." 

Mott  received  and  receipted  for  the  funds  of  the 
absent  Park  and  Mulvain.  The  silent  lawyer  care- 
fully placed  the  moneys  of  the  King  of  the  Border  in 
his  pocket-book,  ready  to  meet  Si  Leavenworth's  drafts, 
and'  Chisholm  reserved  the  secret  dividend  of  the 
unnamed  "  No.  4." 

"  If  we  are  all  satisfied,  let  us  proceed  to  consider  the 
projected  work  of  next  year,"  remarked  the  "  carpet- 
bag "  senator,  as  he  folded  his  own  drafts  carefully  and 
placed  them  in  a  pocket-book.  His  smile  changed  to  a 
grave  frown  as  he  caught  the  glittering  eye  of  Maxan, 
fixed  upon  this  manoeuvre.  While  the  others  rejoiced 
in  a  dividend  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  each 
principal  share  in  the  confederation  of  secret  thieves, 
vSteele  noted  Nordenskiold  and  Chisholm  in  grave  con- 
ference. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  105 

His  own  position  suddenly  was  made  clear  to  him. 
"  I  have  played  the  fool  as  regards  old  Mark  Manson. 
Here  are  Chisholm  and  Nordenskiold,  each  backed  by 
No.  4,  and  Si  Leavenworth.  They  are  safe.  I  have 
to  divide  my  private  earnings  here  with  Maxan.  I 
would  have  been  stronger  if  I  had  let  old  Manson  in 
at  the  first ! 

"  Sooner  or  later,  all  the  reconstruction  officials  will 
be  dropped.  I  must  finally  lose  place  and  power.  I 
have  only  Maxan  behind  me.  He  is  safe  in  his  Mexi- 
can hacienda  fortress.  I  must  now  divide  this  money 
with  him.  With  the  railroad  franchise  in  the  hands 
of  Leavenworth  and  Mark  Manson,  I  am  a  mere  incum- 
brance.  But  if  Grant  is  re-elected  I  have  a  new  lease 
of  power.  I  will  then  be  useful."  His  brow  lightened 
up. 

"  I  will  make  Maxan  sweep  this  young  Manson  from 
my  path.  If  they  should  kill  each  other  over  the  girl, 
so  much  the  better!  If  Maxan  puts  Jack  Manson  out 
of  the  way,  I  will  help  on  his  marriage  with  the  heiress, 
and  Maxan  can  handle  Texas,  while  I  cling  close  to  old 
Mark  here.  Yes!  I  will  get  double  work  out  of 
Ramon — young  human  tiger  as  he  is — he  already 
thirsts  for  Manson's  blood!" 

These  mental  reflections  were  cut  short  by  Chis- 
holm, who  addressed  the  Chairman: 

"  Gentlemen,  I  must  hasten  back  to  New  Orleans. 
We  are  on  the  eve  of  election.  Tumults,  riots,  and 
bloodshed  are  feared  below.  It  is  useless  for  us  to  risk 
any  daring  new  operations  till  we  know  who  will  name 
the  Federal  officers  around  the  Gulf  and  on  the  Rio 
Grande,  for  the  next  four  years.  We  are  likely  to  have 
two  governors,  two  legislatures,  and  a  general  conflict. 

I  suppose  the  d d  Yankee  bayonets  will  decide  it, 

for  I  fear  that  General  Grant  will  be  the  next  President." 


IO6  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  Now,"  said  the  banker  fiercely,  "  let  us  be  watchful. 
I  will  guarantee  to  handle  the  whole  New  Orleans 
situation.  All  the  official  people  down  there  are  easily 
approachable,"  he  sneered.  "  I  move  that  Senator  Steele 
directs  the  policy  here  through  No.  4  and  Mott.  You, 
Mr.  Nordenskiold,  can  handle  the  Gulf  business,  and 
in  a  month  we  can  prepare  for  our  spring  operations 
from  the  West  Indies  and  on  the  Rio  Grande. 

"  You  need  no  advice  but  old  man  Leavenworth's,  and 
you  have  always  your  cipher  and  telegraph  code  to 
work  with. 

"  I  suggest  that  we  leave  all  European  connections 
with  Don  Patricio.  I  will  telegraph  him  of  Grant's 
election  at  once." 

"That's  right!"  cheerfully  cried  Don  Patricio.  "I 
will  see  Park  and  Mulvain  as  I  go  down  to  Monterey. 
They  can  notify  their  agents  in  Europe  of  our  wishes." 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  chairman,  "  If  there  is  no 
different  opinion  this  will  be  our  course  then." 

There  was  a  murmur  of  approval. 

"  I  will  go  down  with  you,  Don  Patricio,"  spoke 
Maxan,  who  had  so  far  held  his  peace.  "  We  can  see 
Collector  Rains  at  Brownsville.  He  can  have  the 
troops  scattered  chasing  raiders  and  Indians,  and  you. 
Bill,"  the  Creole  continued,  "  can  post  your  Inspectors 
who  are  not  in  with  us,  at  out-of-the-way  points,  so  as 
to  leave  us  safe  crossing-places  for  our  goods,  silver,  and 
stock." 

"  One  word,"  broke  in  Beriah  Mott,  as  he  noted 
symptoms  of  a  breaking  up  of  the  conclave. 

"  We  should  separate  at  once.  Some  fool  of  a  news- 
paper reporter  might  chase  us  down  on  account  of  a 
supposed  political  '  deal.'  Before  we  meet  again  I 
presume  this  railroad  job  will  be  well  under  way.  I 
do  not  like  young  Jack  Manson  coming  up  to  the  front 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE.  ID/ 

in  that.  Northern  men  are  not  exactly  popular  yet 
with  us,"  growled  Beriah  Mott,  "  and  there  are  men 
on  the  border  jealous  of  that  neat  job  of  yours,  Norden- 
skiold,"  he  concluded,  turning  to  the  lawyer. 

"  We  must  let  him  run  things  until  his  uncle  has 
floated  our  bonds  and  we  get  the  iron  and  rolling- 
stock,  as  well  as  the  construction  funds  in  specie  down 
there.  I  will  see  that  it  never  goes  out  of  the  country," 
Mott  was  answered,  and  the  circle  nodded  approval. 
"And  if  he  meddles,  Caramba!  I  will  see  that  he  never 
goes  out  of  the  country,"  snarled  Ramon  Maxan,  as  his 
black  eyes  flashed  ominously. 

There  was  a  general  glance  of  surprise  at  the  speaker, 
but  the  coterie  dropped  the  subject  as  they  served  them- 
selves at  the  sideboard,  and  a  general  leave-taking 
began. 

"Ramon  will  fix  the  Gringo,"  chuckled  the  Danish 
duelist,  who  was  not  averse  to  seeing  any  local  influence, 
nearer  than  his  own,  cut  off  from  the  wary  King  of  the 
Frontier. 

Daylight,  streaming  through  the  silken  curtains 
shading  Millie  Smiley's  beauty  sleep,  lit  up  the  different 
paths  of  the  conspirators. 

Chisholm  and  Don  Patricio  journeyed  toward  New 
York,  in  decorous  moneyed  gravity ;  the  others  were 
speeding  along  to  their  now  ready  pleasures. 

On  the  ground,  awaiting  the  official  news  from  the 
White  House,  Ezra  Steele  and  Ramon  Maxan  finished 
a  night  of  quiet  inner  plotting. 

Once  safe  fn  his  rooms,  Ezra  Steele  threw  off  his 
adroitness.  He  was  jovial  and  happy  as  Maxan  joined 
him.  The  statesman  had  shown  himself  a  few 
moments  in  Milly  Smiley's  box,  to  prevent  suspicion 
and  to  whisper  to  her: 

"  You   can   send  home   that    bracelet   from    Gait's, 


1O8  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Milly.  It's  all  right.  I  will  bring  you  the  currency 
to-morrow!" 

A  wave  of  her  fan,  as  the  music  of  the  orchestra  rose 
and  swelled,  and  a  lightning  flash  of  her  incomparable 
eyes  rewarded  him. 

This  little  episode  was  unnoticed  by  the  dozens  of 
paired-off  actors  in  other  schemes  of  -projected  villainy 
centering  in  the  defrauded  National  Treasury. 

But  the  tiger  of  Tamaulipas  was  pacing  Steele's 
rooms  as  the  senator  entered.  He  had  drunk  a  new  nre 
stronger  than  the  cordials,  whose  fiery  drops  fed  his 
rage.  The  light  of  a  deadly  jealousy  flamed  in  his 
eyes. 

Where  they  were  seated,  as  Steele  puffed  his  cigar, 
curiously  watching  Maxan,  the  strains  of  Katie  Leaven- 
worth's  voice  floated  in  at  the  open  window. 

"  She  is  singing  to  that  Yankee  fool,"  snarled  Maxan. 
"  I  saw  them.  While  I  have  been  with  you  to-night, 
he  has  lingered  with  her.  Sea  por  Dios!  I  will  do 
the  job  myself  !  And  that  ass  of  a  brother — let  him 
once  cross  the  Rio  Bravo,  he  shall  remember  this 
"night!" 

"  Now,  Ramon !  Be  half  sensible,"  said  Steele 
calmly.  "  Take  this  easily.  I  wish  you  to  follow  my 
advice.  I  will  give  you  your  money  on  one  condition! 

"You  must  go  down  immediately  to  New  Orleans. 
Stay  around  there  with  Chisholm  till  this  family  party 
arrives  in  two  weeks.  I  will  telegraph  you.  Control 
yourself.  Be  friendly  with  young  Leavenworth  and 
watch  both  him  and  Chisholm.  I  want  to  know  their 
every  movement.  Get  your  state-rooms  on  the  Rio 
Grande  steamer  before  these  people  do.  Then  you 
had  better  go  on  to  your  place,  and  stop  at  San  Miguel 
as  you  go  homeward.  I  will  send  you  some  letters 
for  the  old  man. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  1 09 

"You  can  make  your  'arrangements'  (he  shuddered 
slightly)  as  you  go  from  San  Miguel  to  your  place,  and 
don't  act  till  you  are  apparently  at  home,  far  beyond 
the  Rio  Grande. 

"  After  Jack  Manson  leaves  San  Miguel,  you  can 
strike  him  down  wherever  you  can.  You  tell  me 
that  this  Joaquin  is  trusty."  Steele  paused. 

"To  the  death,"  Maxan  answered,  pausing  in  his 
panther-like  strides. 

"Then  he  can  waylay  him,  or  deliver  him  into  your 
hands.  Follow  my  advice.  Manson  will  not  suspect 
you.  Keep  friendly  with  the  two  Leavenworths,  and 
when  this  meddler  is  out  of  your  way,  you  can  enjoy 
the  inheritance  he  schemes  for  now,  and  be  the  King 
of  the  Zona  Libre.  But  have  no  trouble  with  him 
till  he  leaves  the  Rancho  for  the  border." 

"  You  are  right,  mi  ami g  of  said  Ramon,  dropping 
in  a  chair.  "  When  shall  I  go?" 

"  Take  a  day  or  so  to  settle  your  affairs,  and  be  at 
the  St.  Charles  before  Chisholm  arrives.  Now,  let  us 
both  look  over  these  money  matters." 

After  Steele  had  drifted  into  the  land  of  dreams, 
Ramon  Maxan  walked  the  avenue,  watching  the  lights 
in  the  drawing-room  where  a  happy  circle  jested, 
ignorant  of  the  espionage  of  the  Creole  assassin. 

"  Steele  is  right,  after  all,"  the  prowler  concluded,  as 
he  turned  toward  the  Club.  "  I  will  announce  my 
departure  to  the  men  at  the  Club.  I  must  say  good- 
bye to  Milly,  and  Panchita  must  be  not  forgotten. 

"  She,  poor  devil,  a  few  bits  of  finery  will  content 
her,  but  the  '  Empress'!  Can  I  trust  her  to  watch  this 
old  fox  and  play  fair?  I  suppose  we  shall  have  a  scene!" 
the  complacent  Lothario  mused  as  he  entered  the  club- 
house. 

It  was  excellent  judgment  in  Ezra  Steele  to  restrict 


IIO  FOR   LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

his  visits  for  a  time  at  the  home  of  Milly  Smiley.  "  I 
have  a  national  position.  I  must  not  be  too  openly 
identified  there.  And  this  young  fire-eater  can  make 
his  farewells  undisturbed.  When  he  is  safe  over  the 
Rio  Grande,  I  can  knit  up  a  new  friendship  with  Man- 
son.  In  the  mean  time  I  will  do  a  little  party  scheming 
at  the  White  House  and  rivet  my  claims  for  Southern 
patronage  tighter  until  the  election  is  safe." 

It  was  therefore  in  undisturbed  tete-a-tete  that  the 
Creole  lingered  near  the  siren  who  clung  to  him! 

Mildred  Smiley  gazed  out  on  the  theatre  of  her 
victorious  intrigues,  tired  of  politics,  and  of  the  unending 
daily  scheming  of  her  life.  Her  Southern  nature  was 
piqued  into  a  real  exaltation  by  the  graceful  and  impas- 
sioned Creole. 

"  You  really  leave  to-night?  "  the  "  Empress  "  whis- 
pered as  the  shaded  lights  fell  on  her  resplendent  beauty, 
after  an  hour  of  serious  conference. 

"  I  must  go,  mi  querida,"  answered  Ramon.  "  I  am 
waited  for  at  the  City  of  Mexico  and  New  Orleans. 
Now,  let  me  play  this  little  game  out  on  the  Rio  Grande. 
I  will  be  yours  as  I  have  sworn,  and  you  shall  reign 
over  my  heart  far  beyond  the  sea." 

In  spite  of  the  wrecks  of  fairest  hopes  strewing  her 
past,  the  woman  half  believed  him,  as  her  head  rested 
on  his  breast  and  his  murmurs  allayed  her  first  sus- 
picions. 

When  Ramon  Maxan  unwillingly  departed,  his  last 
act  was  to  give  the  woman  whose  aid  was  so  essential  to 
his  future  relations  with  the  senator,  a  cipher  address  in 
an  envelope. 

"Keep  this  for  yourself  alone.  Write  by  the  Mexi- 
can mail  as  directed  there.  The  code  we  have  used  is 
unknown  to  the  others,  for  I  have  copies  of  all  theirs 
and  this  goes  by  cable  to  Vera  Cruz." 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  Ill 

Milly  smiled  through  her  tears  as  he  handed  the 
papers  to  her,  and,  drawing  a  little  box  from  his  pocket, 
placed  a  magnificent  ring  upon  her  slender  ringer. 

"  There's  hardly  room  for  any  more,  alma  mia,"  he 
laughed,  as  he  caught  her  in  his  arms,  "  but  you  will 
think  of  me  when  you  see  this.  Wear  it  always." 

Her  heart  still  thrilling  with  her  lover's  last  embrace, 
Mildred  Smiley  stood  with  outstretched  arms  unavail- 
ingly  reached  toward  him,  for  the  loud  clang  of  the 
door  told  of  his  departure. 

As  she  turned,  an  object  on  the  floor  attracted  her 
attention.  As  she  stooped  and  examined  it,  standing 
under  the  golden  chandelier,  an  awful  convulsion 
of  passion  shook  her  breast. 

Mutely  gazing  at  the  picture  she  held,  Mildred 
Smiley,  for  the  first  time  in  her  life,  saw  a  fairer  face 
than  her  own!  A  woman  whose  youth  and  tenderly 
passionate  loveliness  beamed  in  every  line  of  the  exqui- 
site miniature.  On  its  reverse  the  words  were  engraven, 
"Panchita  to  Ramon." 

"Liar!  and  false,  even  with  my  kisses  on  his  lips!" 
she  cried,  as  she  threw  herself  on  a  divan  in  an  agony 
of  heartbreak. 

In  a  half-hour  she  raised  her  weary  head,  as  the  tick- 
ing of  the  clock,  in  metallic  monotone,  was  interrupted 
by  the  gong  announcing  a  visitor. 

"  If  I  can  not  live  for  love,  I  will  live  for  a  'woman's 
revenge?  she  cried.  "  I  will  balk  these  plans  now 
dearer  to  him  than  life.  Steele  shall  be  my  very  slave, 
my  blind  slave,  and  when  my  chains  are  riveted  on  him 
forever,  I  will  ride  over  this  lying  traitor,  grovelling  in 
the  dust.  I  will  wear  his  ring  till  I  am  avenged,  and 
then  he  shall  surely  know  who  struck  the  fatal  blow,' 
she  cried,  twisting  the  visitor's  card  in  her  nervous 
hands. 


112  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

«  At  home,"  she  nodded  to  the  butler.  "  I  will  be 
Mrs.  Senator  Steele  in  six  months!"  was  her  resolve  as 
she  swept  toward  the  door,  fairly  startling  the  late 
visitor  with  the  unearthly  beauty  of  her  passion-lighted 
face.  "  This  ring  shall  blaze  on  my  hand  as  a  daily 
monitor,"  she  cried,  as  she  slipped  it  on  her  slender 
finger. 

The  chimes  of  midnight  rang  out  before  Ezra  Steele 
unwillingly  paced  the  silent  streets  to  his  rooms  in  the 
great  hotel. 

"  Milly  is  a  wonderful  woman ;  fit  to  be  a  queen,"  he 
mused ;  and  he  was  startled  as  his  lips  dropped  the 
murmur,  "Why  not?"  Cynic,  adventurer,  and  volupt- 
uary, he  had  not  dared  yet,  in  his  shallow  self-conceit, 
to  admit  Mildred  Smiley's  mental  superiority;  but  on 
this  fated  night,  radiant,  dazzling,  every  nerve  centre 
thrilled  with  all  a  scorned  woman's  pride  and  ambition 
for  revenge,  she  stood  revealed  to  him,  a  being  with  a 
woman's  heart,  a  man's  courage,  and  all  the  sensuous 
beauty  of  an  awakened  Galatea! 

Swept  off  his  feet  by  her  unusual  brilliancy,  Steele 
wandered  to  his  rest,  glad  to  learn,  by  a  brief  note,  of 
Maxan's  departure. 

"  I  want  him  well  out  of  the  way  if — if — I  marry 
her,"  thought  the  statesman.  "Death  may  fold  both 
these  young  fools  in  his  shadowy  wings,  and  I — " 

He  was  asleep  before  he  finished  his  pleasing  rumi- 
nations as  to  the  "survival  of  the  fittest"! 

Under  the  same  roof,  the  calm,  pure  sleep  of  inno- 
cence blessed  the  girl  who  thought,  each  night,  as  she 
gazed  on  her  glowing  beauty  in  the  mirror,  "  Am  I 
right  to  give  Jack  my  heart  friendship,  to  think  so  much 
of  him?"  The  fair  head  rested  happily  to-night  on  the 
maiden's  snowy  pillow,  for  rosy  Dan  Cupid  had 
deceitfully  whispered:  "For  Jimmy's  sake,"  as  her 
eyelids  drooped  like  falling  rose  leaves. 


FOR    LIFE   AND    LOVE.  113 

Mrs.  Winifred  Marshall  sat  gazing  at  the  long  line 
of  lights  along  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  after  her  three 
lovely  charges  were  dismissed  for  the  night.  The 
widowed  mother  was  conscious  of  a  vague  uneasiness, 
a  haunting  apprehension. 

"No  one  is  left  to  advise  me, — none  to  guide  or 
guard,"  she  sighed,  as  she  thought  of  the  useless  harvest 
of  her  husband's  sword  and  the  weary  years  of  her 
lonely  widowhood. 

"  That  handsome  Mexican  is  gone  at  last,"  she  grate- 
fully commented.  "  How  his  eyes  blazed  as  he  said 
'adieu'  to  Katie  to-night!  If  I  can  help  it,  he  shall  not 
be  a  very  welcome  visitor  at  San  Miguel  Rancho.  I 
must  write  to  Mrs.  Leavenworth  and  warn  her." 

"  This  Maxan  may  have  business  with  Katie's  father, 
who  must  be  friendly  to  all  powerful  borderers.  But 
with  young  James,  so  fiery,  and  Mr.  Manson,  there 
might  be  trouble.  These  young  hotheads  are  so  wild  in 
youth."  The  still  fair  woman  gazed  helplessly  around 
her  quiet  roont  and  thought  of  her  own  spirited  brother 
Fairfax,  killed  in  a  romantic  duel  before  his  college 
laurels  were  withered. 

"  The  election  will  be  over  in  a  week.  I  shall  be 
glad  to  see  the  dear  girls  on  their  way  home.  Surely 
with  a  brother  and  voung  Manson  there  can  be  no 
mishap." 

The  very  trees  around  Arundel  House  seemed  to 
be  calling  her  home.  The  gentle  Virginian  was-  out  of 
her  element  amid  the  unsubstantial  splendors  of  an 
American  hotel.  Even  as  she  sat,  the  clash  of  wine 
glasses  and  the  shouts  of  excited  politicians  rose  in 
chorus  from  the  cafe  below. 

"  I  am  happy  to  take  Gertrude  home  again,"  the 
mother  concluded,  as  .she  finished  her  review  of  the 
social  situation.  « I  shall  not  have  her  long,"  she 


ii4  FOR  L1FE  AXD  LOVE- 

thought,  with  a  smile,  for  gallant,  impetuous  Jimmy 
Leaveruvorth  was  no  laggard  lover.  And  no  Marshall 
heiress  ever  lingered  on  the  ancestral  tree.  They  were 
all  belles  by  inheritance! 

"  It  is  well,"  was  her  last  thought.  "  I  like  Mrs. 
Smiley;  and  yet — and  yet  there's  nothing  like  our  own 
Virginia  people  after  all." 

Jack  Manson's  heart-  was  happy  as  he  sped  away  the 
next  evening  to  New  York  to  receive  his  final  instruc- 
tions from  Mark  Manson,  as  the  overwhelming  tide  of 
popular  favor  ensured  General  Grant's  re-election. 

Senator  Ezra  Steele,  returning  from  the  White  House 
in  great  good  humor,  cheered  the  young  man  on  his 
way.  Federal  prominence  and  power  were  now  assured 
him,  and  the  very  name  "  Rio  Grande  "  seemed  to  roll 
off  his  tongue  in  golden  accents.  He  was  radiant  as 
he  sped  away  to  a  tete-a-tete  dinner  with  the  "Empress." 

At  this  very  moment  the  pretty  free  lance  sat  in  her 
boudoir  casting  up  the  chances.  Steele  had  showed 
her  all  his  confidential  telegrams  and  data  as  to  the  great 
political  struggle. 

"  It  is  done,"  she  cried,  as  she  noted  the  hour  for  her 
robing  to  meet  the  senator.  "  He  will  surely  be  in  power 
four  years  more.  He  has  wealth.  I  will  risk  it!  And 
now,  on  to  victory !  I  will  keep  him  to  his  purpose  and 
move  him  up  to  a  formal  declaration  before  it  is  too 
late.  And  yet,  I  am  not  fading.  I  might  " — she  saw 
her  loveliness  reflected  in  the  glass.  The  thought  of  a 
sweet  revenge  decided  all. 

"It  is  done.  Mrs.  Senator  Steele!"  she  laughed  and 
nodded  to  her  smiling  self  as  she  mounted  the  staircase 
that  night! 

While  the  senator  was  basking  in  the  smiles  of  the 
"Empress"  in  the  dying  gleams  of  evening,  Mrs. 
Marshall  sat  in  her  private  rooms  with  frightened 
Katie,  the  Texan  Rose,  as  a  confidant. 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE.  115 

"  I  do  not  know  what  to  do,  dear  Auntie,"  cried  the 
young  beauty.  "Read  this  letter!  I  fear  to  answer  it. 
I  have  not  told  Alice,  and  I  am  afraid  to  let  Brother 
Jimmy  even  know  of  its  existence." 

It  was  a  passionate,  burning  letter  from  Ramon 
Maxan,  the  formulation  of  his  jealous  passion.  In 
terms  glowing  with  tropic  fervor,  he  begged  for  even 
a  word,  one  word  in  answer.  His  address  was  given 
as  the  "  Crescent  Club,"  New  Orleans. 

I  may  not  go  to  Mexico  till  you  arrive  at  New  Orleans.  I 
shall  pay  my  respects  in  person  and  I  beg  only  for  one  little 
word.  If.  I  do  not  see  you,  I  will  ride  from  Hacienda  Maxan 
to  your  San  Miguel. 

"Leave  the  letter  with  me,  my  child,"  the  Virginia 
lady  said.  "  I  will  return  it.  I  shall  see  that  you 
do  not  receive  any  visits  from  this  ardent  stranger  at 
New  Orleans.  You  must  decline  to  receive  him  after 
such  a  rash  missive.  Once  at  home,  you  will  be  safe, 
for  I  will  let  your  mother  know  all." 

There  was  a  grateful  relief  shining  in  the  maiden's 
eyes.  "  I  am  so  glad.  I  am  really  afraid  of  him.  He 
is  so  passionate.  So  reckless  of  everyone  else.  Not 
like  Jack." 

Katie  rose  with  crimsoned  cheeks,  as  she  found  a 
sudden  occupation  at  the  mirror.  She  had  noted  Mrs. 
Marshall's  astonished  glances.  There  was  an  awkward 
silence. 

"  Do  you  then  find  '  Mr.  Jack '  so  agreeable  ? "  brightly 
queried  the  widow. 

"  I  meant — I  meant,  he  is  more  reserved ;  yes,  that  is 
what  I  wish  to  say,"  smiled  Katie. 

"Ah!  I  see,  quite  reserved;  yes,  he  seems  to  be 
so,"  dryly  remarked  Mrs.  Marshall.  "  It  is  time  to  dress 
for  dinner,  my  child." 


Il6  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Katie  fled  away  like  a  bird,  and  all  unconscious  that 
she  only  carried  half  her  secret  in  a  fluttering  woman 
heart  now. 

"It  is  well!  It  is  right,"  smiled  the  good  patrician 
dame,  who  remembered  certain  little  plans  lately  made 
"For  Brother  Jimmy's  sake." 

While  the  rejoicings  over  the  unparalleled  majorities 
returning  General  Ulysses  S.  Grant  to  the  White  House 
were  convulsing  the  national  capital,  the  bustle  of 
departure  enlivened  the  friends  of  a  brief  life  holiday. 

Mrs.  Marshall  pleaded  fatigue  as  the  reason  of  return- 
ing early  from  Madame  Mildred  Smiley's  last  ceremo- 
nial dinner  to  the  circle  now  breaking  up. 

"  Perfectly  good  style,  and  a  delightful  hostess,  and 
yet,  I  have  not  found  out  what  good  Gulf  family  this  lady 
is  related  to;  I  would  really  like  to  know!"  the  departing 
Virginian  dame  murmured  as  she  sought  the  hotel,  for 
she  had  forgotten  to  return  Ramon  Maxan's  impulsive 
letter. 

"  I  must  mail  it  to-night,  so  it  will  reach  New  Orleans 
at  least  a  day  before  they  arrive,"  was  Mrs.  Marshall's 
resolve. 

As  the  carriage  rolled  away,  the  "  Empress,"  gating 
after  her  departing  guests,  thought  bitterly :  "  She  is 
only  a  quiet  home  woman,  and  yet  all  my  splendor  has 
not  imposed  on  her.  She  doubts  my  position ;  she  sus- 
pects me.  I  will  make  sure.  Mrs.  Senator  Steele 
needs  no  past  history ! " 

Turning  to  Jack  Manson,  whose  devotion  to  the 
sweet  girl  he  now  madly  adored  was  clearly  evident  to 
all,  Mildred  Smiley  murmured: 

I  must  see  you  alone  before  you  leave  to-morrow.  It 
is  vital  to  you ;  it  concerns  your  very  existence." 

"  To  me,  madam,  I  can  not  understand,"  whispered 
Jack,  as  with  a  happy  inspiration  he  led  the  hostess  into 
the  spacious  picture  gallery. 


FOR    LI^E    AND    LOVE.  llj 

Passing  a  mirror,  wherein  was  reflected  Katie 
Leaven  worth,  in  all  her  virginal  charms,  the  "Empress" 
pressed  his  arm. 

Motioning  with  her  fan,  she  murmured  "  You  love 
her  madly.  She  is  pursued  by  a  desperate  suitor.  Ah! 
you  can  not  deny  your  love?  Come  and  breakfast  with 
me  alone  to-morrow.  I  will  put  you  on  your  guard." 

Manson  bowed  his  handsome  head  in  assent,  for  his 
blood  leapt  to  his  heart.  Every  nerve  and  fibre  was 
thrilling.  He  whispered: 

"  Maxan?"  The  "Empress  "  bowed  as  she  turned.  "  I 
will  come,"  he  whispered,  for  his  blood  was  boiling. 
No  smile  shone  on  the  sculptured  face  of  the  "  Empress," 
but  the  first  delightful  throb  of  anticipated  revenge 
thrilled  her  aching  woman  heart. 

While  the  hours  passed  gaily  at  Mildred  Smiley's 
fete,  Mrs.  Marshall  achieved  a  triumph  of  epistolary} 
polite  coldness. 

Mrs.  Marshall  begs  leave  to  return  a  letter  received  by  a 
young  lady,  now  in  her  charge,  and  to  suggest  to  Mr.  Ramon 
Maxan  the  propriety  of  ceasing  such  correspondence,  and 
refraining  from  visiting  the  person  addressed,  until  he  is 
admitted  to  the  acquaintance  of  her  parents. 

"  I  think  that  will  be  effective,  especially  in  view  of 
this  letter."  The  relieved  duenna  read  once  more  the 
friendly  letter  of  Mrs.  Leavenworth  announcing  that 
Colonel  Thomas  Bayard  of  the  Nueces  Valley  would 
meet  the  party  at  New  Orleans  and  take  charge  of  the 
transportation  arrangements,  as  he  had  also  business 
with  her  son.  "  The  Colonel  is  a  business  associate  of 
my  husband,  and  one  of  the  bravest  and  best  of  our 
soldiers,  for  he  led  a  Texan  regiment  at  Corinth  and 
Vicksburg."  Such  were  the  reassuting  words. 

*'  I   can  now  see   them    go   in  perfect  tranquillity," 


Il8  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

thought  the  widowed  lady,  as  the  three  beauties  came 
laughing  up  the  stair.  "  There  will  be  a  man  of  ex- 
perience to  watch  over  Katie.  Alice,"  said  Mrs. 
Marshall,  as  she  laid  the  letter  away,  "  what  do  you 
know  of  Colonel  Thomas  Bayard?  " 

"He  is  the  best  and  bravest  of  men,  and  a  trusted 
friend  of  my  father's,"  replied  St.  Cecilia  Alice,  with 
a  moss-rose  glow  on  her  placid  cheek. 

"  Yes ;  and  he  swam  the  Nueces  River  and  braved 
death  not  to  miss  saying  '  good-bye  '  to  you,  when  we 
left  San  Miguel,"  cried  Katie,  gathering  her  drapery 
and  flitting  away,  leaving  Alice  in  helpless  confusion. 

"Ah,  yes!  He  must  have  very  important  business  in 
New  Orleans  now,"  sighed  the  widow,  as  she  dispatched 
Maxan's  letter.  "  I  think  I  see  what  it  is! " 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ON    HIS    GUARD — THE    CRESCENT    CITY TOM    BAYARD 

SEES    A    FORGOTTEN    FACE AN    AWKWARD     REN- 

CONTRE — RAMON  MAXAN's  OATH. 

THERE  was  an  intense  anxiety  in  Jack  Manson's  eyes 
when  he  offered  his  beautiful  hostess  his  arm  on  leaving 
her  table  next  day.  Mildred  Smiley,  during  the  hour, 
had  sounded  every  corner  of  the  young  engineer's 
heart.  "  No  place  for  me  in  his  honest  bosom.  I  am 
destined  for  a  higher  life,  a  loftier  station,  even  if  my 
wedding  diamonds  are  only  sparkling  tears!  I  must  be 
'sisterly'  and  aid  him  in  his  wooing.  Steele,  the  Man- 
sons  and  the  Leavenworths  must  work  together,  and  I 
will  know,  /  mustjino-w^  when  I  am  a  senator's  wife, 
who  the  mysterious  No.  4  is. " 

She  smiled  as  Jack  led  her  into  the  little  Turkish 
room.  « After  I  marry  Steele  I  only  have  to  follow 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  119 

up  his  intimacies  and  the  riddle  will  solve  itself.  Can 
the  unknown  be  a  cabinet  officer?" 

Even  the  bold  adventuress  dared  not  think  of  all  the 
possibilities  of  a  discovery  so  dangerous  as  a  State  secret! 

"Now,"  said  the  "Empress,"  suddenly,  in  an  alert, 
business-like  tone,  "I  will  not  detain  you.  I  know  that 
you  must  leave  to-night.  I  can  easily  imagine  you  have 
many  commissions."  She  smiled  archly. 

"  I  have  brought  you  here  alone  to  tell  you  that 
Ramon  Maxan  is  your  mortal  foe.  He  menaces  your 
lovely  Katie  with  his  wild,  reckless  Creole  passion. 
That  man  will  stop  at  nothing.  He  has  a  plan  to 
worm  himself  into  the  confidence  of  the  circle  at  San 
Miguel.  His  schemes  bode  no  good  to  young  Leaven- 
worth  and  they  are  also  opposed  to  the  interests  of 
your  Uncle  Mark. 

"  Be  warned  by  me!  Beware  of  him!  He  is  as  sly  as 
the  jaguar  of  the  wild  Mexican  mountains.  What  you 
would  call  bloody  crime,  he  merely  sneers  at  as  intrigue." 

"  I  am  not  likely  to  be  brought  in  conflict  with  this 
half-breed,"  replied  Manson  warily. 

"  Say  not  so!  He  is  intimate  with  those  high  in  this 
great  Rio  Grande  Company,  whose  roots,  trunks,  and 
branches  spread  farther  than  you  now  know,"  said  the 
woman  at  his  side  earnestly.  "  He  is  at  New  Orleans 
by  this  time." 

"Are  you,  then,  so  intimate  with  him?  Has  he 
ever  crossed  your  path  ? "  replied  Manson. 

"  He  has  a  hold  on  one  whose  interests  may  soon  be 
my  own,"  Mildred  Smiley  answered,  with  a  faint 
blush.  "  But  as  to  him,  I  speak  of  what  I  know.  He 
has  not  been  loth  to  try  and  extend  that  influence 
through  me.  The  traitor !  " 

She  sprang  up  and  paced  the  floor,  her  bosom  heav- 
ing in  disdain. 


I2O  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

« I  hardly  see  any  direct  menace  to  Miss  Leavenworth 
here,  Madam,"  said  Jack  coldly.  He  was  averse  to 
opening  the  golden  chalice  of  his  first  love  to  this 
world-worn  society  woman. 

"Jack,"  cried  the  "Empress,"  seizing  his  arm.  "Are 
you  blind?  He  has  urged  me  to  bring  Katie  Leaven- 
worth  here,  to  separate  you,  to  aid  him  to  press  his 
suit,  as  he  knew  time  was  precious.  He  wished  to 
dazzle  her  young  heart  with  his  cosmopolitan  graces. 
He  seeks  to  be  the  lord  of  San  Miguel  Rancho,  to  be 
the  sole  king  of  the  Rio  Grande  frontier." 

"And  why?"  persisted  Manson.  "  He  is  young,  gay, 
and  rich.  He  can  rove  at  will  over  the  world.  He 
has  a  splendid  hacienda  in  the  Zona  Libre,  has  he  not  ?  " 

"  True,"  cried  Millie,  sinking  into  a  chair,  her  eyes 
blazing.  "But  you  are  singularly  obtuse  to-day.  It  is 
the  future  and  prospective  millions  of  the  Rio  Grande 
Company  he  aims  to  control." 

"  I  fail  to  see  how  he  can  do  that,"  sturdily  replied 
Manson.  "  Steele,  my  uncle,  and  Si  Leavenworth 
dominate  that.  The  railroad  lands  and  franchise  are  in 
my  uncle's  name  with  Leavenworth  as  associate." 

"  You  are  only  a  boy  yet,  although  a  veteran  of  the 
plains,"  answered  the  "  Empress."  "  Come  back  to  me 
after  you  have  ridden  the  Rio  Grande  a  year.  You  will 
then  know  the  secret  side  of  the  Rio  Grande  Company's 
mysteries.  If  you  don't  "divine  them,  you  are  not  fit  to 
guard  your  own  life  down  there." 

Manson  started  as  the  silver  chime  of  the  clock  rang 
out  "  two."  "  I  thank  you.  I  feel  that  you  have  a  deeper 
knowledge  of  the  hidden  mystery  of  the  border  than  I 
thought.  Tell  me  what  I  shall  do  ? " 

"  Listen,"  said  the  superb  woman,  bounding  like  a 
velvet-footed  tigress  to  an  ebony  cabinet,  over  which  a 
superb  ivory  crucifix  hung,  in  mockery  of  its  dark  secrets. 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE.  121 

She  turned  and  held  out  to  him  a  packet  of  letters. 
"  I  have  never  yet  broken  the  confidence  of  one  in  my 
power  by  virtue  of  these  poor  charms  " — she  flashed  a 
triumphant  glance  at  the  mirror.  "These  letters  might 
bring  you  face  to  face  with  Maxan  at  ten  paces.  Watch 
him  for  your  friend  Jimmy's  sake;  for  Katie's  sake — 
for  your  own!  I  swear  he  plots  evil  against  you  all.  Be 
patient,  prudent,  bold  at  the  right  time  only  !  His  arm 
is  long;  he  has  spies  and  agents  scattered  over  the 
sandy  Golgotha  of  the  Rio  Grande.  You  are  more  than 
a  match  for  him  in  manliness.  Be  as  wise  and  cunning  as 
you  will  be  brave.  Now,  go!  Do  not  forget  my  words 
an  instant  by  day  or  night.  Keep  Maxan  and  young 
Leavenworth  apart." 

She  turned  and  replaced  the  letters.  As  Manson  in 
astonishment  approached  her,  he  saw  there  were  bright 
tears  in  her  splendid  eyes. 

"  Tell  me  more,"  he  begged.  This  strange  passionate 
woman  excited  him  like  the  wine  of  Cyprus! 

"  Not  another  word!  You  might  guess  all!  "  she  said 
softly,  leading  him  out  into  the  splendid  lonely  drawing- 
rooms.  "  In  three  months  I  shall  be  the  wife  of 
another.  It  is  because  it  is  the  last  time  I  am  free  to 
do  so,  that  I  tell  you  what  I  do  to  guard  and  guide 
you. 

"  Now  leave  me,"  -she  cried,  her  voice  failing.  Man- 
son  faltered,  irresolute.  In  later  lonely  rides  under  the 
stars  of  the  silent  deserts  of  the  Rio  Bravo,  he  remem- 
bered a  royal  woman  clinging  to  him,  pressing  on  his 
lips  burning  kisses.  Her  last  words  were:  "Jack,  / 
could  have  loved  you!  Watch  over  your  beloved  at 
New  Orleans.  God  keep  you  from  Ramon  Maxan's 
treachery ! " 

Before  the  still  bewildered  Manson  had  joined  the 
laughing  circle  at  the  Arlington,  Mildred  Smiley,  with 


122  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

flying  fingers,  indited  a  note  to  Senator  Ezra  Steele.  A 
trusty  messenger,  hastening  with  it,  found  the  still  excited 
engineer  busied  in  his  adieux  with  the  statesman. 

"  Will  you  excuse  me  a  moment?"  the  senator 
begged.  Manson  bowed,  but  with  quick  eye  noted  the 
now  familiar  hand  of  Mrs.  Mildred  Smiley. 

"  Brief  and  pointed,"  mused  Manson,  as  the  senator 
scrawled  a  line,  hastily  sealing  it  and  dispatching  the 
messenger. 

"  Some  new  leaf  of  an  intrigue  which  seems  to  reach, 
octopus-like,  from  the  Rio  Grande  to  the  White 
House,"  thought  Jack. 

He  was  right.     The  words  of  Milly  Smiley  were: 

Come  to  me  at  once!    Must  see  you  before  they  go! 

"  My  dear  Manson,"  said  the  senator,  "  I  have  received 
an  important  summons.  I  will  meet  you  at  the  train 
and  go  on  a  few  miles  with  you.  I  may  be  delayed, 
and  I  am  to  have  a  few  words  also  with  the  President. 
Some  important  delegations  of  Southern  republicans 
are  to  be  presented.  There  is  strife  and  trouble  at  New 
Orleans.  We  can,  however,  have  a  few  words  in 
comfort  to-night." 

The  responsibilities  of  Manson  were  great  in  the 
impending  departure,  .for,  with  all  a  watchful  lover's 
care,  the  young  Texan  cavalier,  after  tender  leave- 
takings,  was  convoying  Mrs.  Marshall  and  Miss 
Gertrude  to  Alexandria. 

If  tears  shone  in  Gertie  Marshall's  eyes,  they  were 
happy  ones,  for  Alice  and  Katie  easily  divined  the 
shining  bow  of  promise  over  the  happy  lovers'  heads! 

Crafty  Ezra  Steele  was  in  his  flood-tide  of  happi- 
ness as  he  joined  the  departing  pilgrims  to  Texas. 
Grateful  pride  beamed  in  his  eyes,  and  his  heart 


FOR   LIFE    AND   LOVE.  12$ 

was  overflowing  with  happiness.  The  President  had 
entrusted  to  him  a  secret  political  mission  to  the  Gulf 
States.  This  very  fact  would  enable  him  to  receive, 
with  due  public  honor,  the  merited  testimonial  of  his 
re-election  as  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six 
years.  His  own  State  could  not  afford  to  reject  the 
chosen  representative  of  a  party  flushed  with  an 
unexampled  victory.  In  the  happy  excitement  of  the 
moment,  he  had  imparted  the  news  to  the  woman 
whose  fascinations  of  the  last  days  had  awakened 
his  very  inmost  being. 

Quick  to  decide,  having  "  burned  her  ships,"  Mildred 
Smiley  had  promised  to  become  his  wife  the  moment 
that  his  new  credentials  were  signed.  For  in  her  ear  he 
had  whispered,  "  Another  stroke  of  luck.  My  friend, 
No.  4,  is  safe.  He  will  be  kept  in  the  new  cabinet ! " 
The  blood  surged  back  into  her  heart  with  a  gasp. 
"  Was  the  secret  friend  already  so  near  the  counsels 
of  government?  This  is  safety !  I  will  know  all  when 
I  am  his  wife!  "  Dissembling  her  triumph,  the  "  Em- 
press" begged  Senator  Steele  to  keep  Maxan  employed 
on  the  Mexican  side  of  the  Rio  Bravo. 

"You  are  right;  I  will  do  so,"  replied  the  statesman, 
proud  of  her  quick  wit.  He  felt  that  he  had  a  "  help- 
mate" now! 

As  he  seated  himself  in  a  private  smoking  compart, 
ment  with  Manson,  when  the  train  drew  out,  Steele 
rejoiced  that  he  had  telegraphed  to  Maxan  at  the  Cres- 
cent Club,  New  Orleans. 

Party  leave  to-night  for  Texas.  Avoid  them.  Will  explain. 
Meet  me  in  Mobile  one  week  from  to-day.  Special  duty  for  you. 

"  He  will  be  useful  there.  I  will  go  down  in  a  day 
or  so  and  attend^to  my  election.  Then  I  can  keep  an 
eye  on  this  hothead,  for  I  must  see  Chisholm  at  New 


124  FOR  LIFE  AND  LOVE- 

Orleans  about  the  rival  legislatures.  By  that  time  they 
will  have  sailed.  I  must  be  decidedly  friendly  with 
Maxan  until  my  new  senatorial  credentials  are  signed. 
He  could  use  a  powerful  weapon  in  blackmail  and 
scandal  against  me.  Dare  I  warn  Manson  against  him  ? 
Not  till  I  am  safely  re-elected  must  I  join  my  fortunes 
with  Mark  Manson  and  Si  Leavenworth." 

The  young  engineer  smoked  thoughtfully,  and 
keenly  watched  Steele.  "  He  is  the  coming  bride- 
groom," so  Jack  decided,  after  the  note  and  its  quick 
response  by  Steele.  He  had  an  added  mystery  weigh- 
ing on  his  tired  brain,  for  grave  Mrs.  Marshall  had 
seized  a  propitious  moment  and  begged  him  to  specially 
watch  over  Katie  at  New  Orleans.  Milly  Smiley's 
renewed  warning  startled  him. 

"Hover  near  Katie  while  you  are  in  New  Orleans," 
wrote  Mrs.  Leavenworth.  "I  know  Alice  will  have 
Colonel  Bayard  as  an  escort,  but  Jimmy  may  be  away, 
and  I  hope  you  will  watch  over  Katie."  Manson's  teeth 
were  set  as  he  thought  of  the  gentle  Virginian's  warning. 
He  could  not  know  that  the  widowed  lady  refrained,  in 
womanly  delicacy,  from  disclosing  to  him  (an  anxious 
lover)  the  secret  of  Maxan's  impulsive,  burning  words 
of  proposal. 

With  these  ominous  signs  of  future  trouble,  Manson 
was  not  overpatient  when  the  senator,  having  pompously 
hinted  of  his  re-election  and  "  public  business  "  in  the 
South,  ventured  to  gravely  refer  to  the  necessity  of 
caution  in  meeting  the  fiery  Mexican,  and  his  future 
.value  to  the  "  Company's"  interests. 

"  Remember,  you  are  going  into  a  strange  land  and 
among  a  strange  people.  This  man  is  able,  young,  and 
fearless.  I  hope  you  and  Leavenworth  will  get  along 
well  with  him." 

Here  was  a  third  warning  in  one^dajM    Jack    Man- 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  125 

son's  mind  went  back  to  past  days  when  he  had 
guarded  his  scalp  and  defended  his  life,  rifle  in  hand, 
gazing  steadfastly  at  the  yelling  Cheyenne  "dog- 
soldiers"  and  the  wild,  shrieking,  long-haired  Sioux. 

"Senator,"  said  Manson,  withhold  concentrated  bit- 
terness.  "I  have  had  some  little  experience.  Even  with 
Ramon  Maxan's  manifold  powers  of  strategy  and  per- 
sonal powers,  I  shall  try  and  treat  him  civilly.  Should 
his  peculiar  unreliability  (which  I  think  some  seem  to 
fear)  and  his  supposed  easy  mastery  of  all  comers 
throw  him  across  my  path,  I  shall  try  to  make  him  feel 
that  two  can  play  at  any  game  he  practices!  As  for 
Mr.  James  Leavenworth,  I  am  not  intimate  enough  to 
coach  him  in  his  conduct.  I  think  the  Mexican  War 
taught  us  the  Texans  could  hold  their  own  with  their 
wily  neighbors.  Leavenworth,  I  am  told,  is  a  past 
master  of  the  prairie  arts,  and  the  best  rider  and  shot  in 
Western  Texas.  God  knows,  these  fellows  are  bold 
enough !  We  had  to  blow  them  from  the  mouths  of 
the  guns  at  Battery  Robinett.  There  at  Corinth,  the 
Colonel  and  the  Chaplain  of  the  Texan  assaulting 
regiment  were  killed,  side  by  side,  crawling  into  the 
flaming  embrasures.  I  will  back  Leavenworth  with 
fair  play  against  two  Maxans,"  concluded  Manson, 
his  good  humor  returning  as  he  heard  Katie's  silvery 
laugh  in  the  near  drawing-room  compartment. 

"  Fair  play  is  just  the  idea.  Be  patient,  prudent,  and 
remember  you  have  much  to  learn  in  your  new  life," 
oracularly  remarked  Steele,  as  the  whistle  warned  him 
of  the  good-bye  to  the  ladies. 

"  I  don't  doubt  it,  Senator.  I  will  try  and  keep  my 
eyes  open.  Thanks  for  all  your  kindness  and  hos- 
pitality," said  Jack,  as  they  joined  the  ladies. 

In  the  uneasy  rest  of  a  rattling  journey  over  a  rough 
railway  toward  the  Tennessee  hills,  as  they  sped  on, 


126  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Hanson^s  dreams  were  haunted  by  all  these  vague  inti- 
mations, and  more  than  once  the  brilliant  eyes  of  Ramon 
Maxan  disturbed  the  plainsman's  dreams. 

"  An  Indian  eye;  watch  it,"  was  Jack's  first  thought, 
as  he  woke  in  the  clear  frosty  air  at  Knoxville. 

The  Tennessee  mountains  towered  above  them  as 
Jack,  with  a  growing  sense  of  proprietorship,  led  the 
rosy  young  Aurora,  Katie  Leavenworth,  from  the  car. 

These  were  happy  hours,  not  a  cloud  flecking  that 
blue  of  the  present  happiness.  Her  sweet  welcome 
was  shyly  given — not  all  and  all  "for  Jimmy's  sake." 

Two  of  the  happiest  days  of  Jack  Manson's  eventful 
life  drew  to  a  close  when  the  train  drew  into  the  Jack- 
son Depot  at  New  Orleans.  Brief  period  of  unalloyed 
bliss!  There  was  no  shadow  on  the  fair  girl's  brow  as 
the  glorious  mountains  of  Tennessee  flashed  by.  Her 
heart  beat  high  as  the  dense  pine  woods,  fragrant  of 
life-giving  balsam,  were  reached  in  wild  Mississippi. 
Dark  and  lonely,  these  almost  primeval  forests  indicated 
the  home  of  a  warrior  people.  Every  turn  of  the 
wheel  brought  her  nearer  home! 

Here  and  there,  on  knoll  and  ridge,  an  ugly  star  fort 
told  of  the  yet  unsettled  chaos  of-  the  Civil  War. 
Block-houses  frowned  from  hills  beetling  above  them, 
and  long  lines  of  crumbling  earthworks  brought  back 
that  war  whose  cannons  still  seemed  to  echo  discord  in 
the  scowling,  sullen,  defeated  people. 

Crowds  of  timid  negroes  gazed  blankly  at  the  voy- 
agers, avoiding  the  harsh,  bearded  masters  of  their  race, 
who  lounged  around  the  stations, eying  all  south-bound 
travellers  truculently.  The  sting  of  Grant's  triumphal 
re-election  embittered  these  loiterers,  whose  glances 
were  wicked  as  they  noted  here  and  there  a  Federal 
uniform.  For  no  banners  here  wafted  on  high  the  Stars 
and  Bars  a  generation  had  died  for.  A  military  occu- 
pation still  held  down  the  yet  disorganized  people, 


FOR   LIFE    AND    LOVE.  127 

The  air  was  redolent  of  strife  at  New  Orleans,  where 
two  would-be  governors,  two  legislatures,  and  rival  city 
officials  and  police,  struggled  for  control  of  the  once 
peerless  Crescent  City  and  the  fair  State  of  Louisiana. 

Jack  Manson,  in  a  delicious  day-dream,  lingered  by 
Katie  Leavenworth's  side  in  these  happy  hours,  while 
Brother  Jimmy  seriously  communed  with  St.  Cecilia 
Alice,  or  smoked  his  cigar,  finding  congenial  friends 
among  the  swarthy  Southrons  of  his  natural  liking.  In 
the  unrestricted  intercourse  of  travel,  Manson  learned 
many  quaint  stories  of  the  Rio  Grande  country  from 
his  lovely  companion.  The  land  of  Austin,  Houston, 
Crockett,  and  Travis,  was  a  fascinating  subject  to  the 
Northern  engineer. 

He  knew  that  Texas  had  really  been  enriched  and 
peopled  by  the  war.  The  wave  of  Southern  veterans, 
turning  away  from  old  homes  desolated  by  war  to  the 
vast  prairies  of  a  vague  empire,  was  now  moving  the 
best  blood  of  the  Gulf  States  away  from  the  "  negro 
belt."  Month  by  month, the  rapidly  extending  railways 
were  bringing  to  its  frontiers  new  citizens  of  Texas. 
From  the  North,  South,  and  West,  as  well  as  the  North- 
west, following  the  railway  wheel,  a  peaceful  army  was 
invading  the  great  empire,  bearing  palms  of  peace 
instead  of  bayonets! 

But  from  the  lips  of  the  winsome  girl,  Jack  Manson 
learned  stories  of  the  wild  border  life;  old  tales  of  the 
Alamo,  of  Gonzales,  of  the  glorious  San  Jacinto,  were 
her  cradle  memories!  In  her  eager,  passionate  way,  the 
bright  Texan  maid  painted  the  vastness  of  the  green 
prairie-sea,  the  silent  grandeur  of  the  star-lit  deserts, 
the  beauty  of  the  wooded  openings  of  the  fertile  Nueces, 
and  romantic  border  legends  of  all  the  wild  races  of 
the  Rio  Bravo. 

Fresh  in  her  youthful  enthusiasm,  ardent  and  spirited, 


128  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Katie  called  up  word-pictures  which  fascinated  Manson. 
The  bold,  generous,  bronzed  riders  of  the  unpeopled 
wastes,  swarthy  Comanche,  revengeful  Seminole, 
black-hearted  Kickapoo,  and  all  the  banditti  of  the 
border  were  pictured  in  her  own  glowing  words. 

"You  shall  see  the  brightest  skies  on  earth,  and 
breathe  the  prairie  air  in  crystalline  purity.  At  night  the 
great  stars  flash  down  from  clear,  blue  skies,  and 
the  breeze  from  the  Monterey  mountains  sweeps  over  the 
wooded  islands  of  the  Rio  Grande.  They  tell  me  of 
the  old  days  of  Cortez  and  Montezuma,  of  the  Spanish 
chase  for  new  empires,  of  the  wanderings  of  the  first 
Spanish  cavalier  from  the  Mississippi.  I  love  the  great, 
silent  land !  I  am  proud  of  my  native  State." 

"You  are  loyal  to  your  Southern  home,"  cried  Man- 
son,  his  eyes  resting  on  the  impassioned  face  of  the 
young  beauty. 

"  Wait  till  you  see  it!  There  is  a  picturesque  life  in 
our  freedom,  our  unpeopled  plains!  Our  riders  are  the 
boldest  on  earth — the  last  of  the  wild  horsemen!" 

So,  growing  closer  every  hour  in  spirit  to  the  woman 
by  his  side,  Jack  sighed  as  the  journey  ended.  His 
brow  clouded  as  he  thought  of  the  one  haunting  shadow 
on  his  path,  Ramon  Maxan. 

"  He  shall  not  disturb  her  peace  of  mind  while  I  can 
watch  over  her,"  the  lover  soliloquized. 

In  his  well-meant  enthusiasm,  Jack  forgot  that  he 
was  not  altogether  unprejudiced  in  his  self-imposed 
burden  of  watchfulness.  For,  as  yet,  even  her  sweet 
eyes  had  not,  in  their  frank  glances,  yielded  to  him  the 
right  to  be  her  bounden  knight. 

It  was  true!  Katie  Leavenworth's  dauntless  heart 
was  to  be  won  only  by  a  victor  champion.  With  all 
her  delicacy  in  mind,  the  heritage  of  a  gentle  and 
refined  mother,  the  Texan  heiress  had  the  high-souled 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  129 

bravery  and  spirit  of  her  fearless  father,  the  hero  of  a 
hundred  adventures  as  ranger  and  frontier  king! 
For  far  and  near,  his  tenure  of  life  depended  often  on 
the  ready  pistol,  his  matchless  horses,  and  the  courage  of 
the  indomitable  Anglo-Saxon  aided  bv  the  border  skill 
gained  in  thirty  years  of  danger. 

Hanson's  elaborate  courtesy  in  aiding  Miss  Katie  to 
leave  the  train  was  interrupted  by  her'  joyous  exclama- 
tions as  she  stretched  out  both  hands  to  a  handsome 
stranger,  whose  greetings  to  her  brother  and  sister  were 
frank  and  hearty. 

"  Colonel  Tom !  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you  once 
more."  Clasping  both  of  her  hands,  the  stalwart 
Texan  laughed  good-humoredly  as  he  said:  "Little 
lady,  you  are  grown  out  of  my  knowledge.  I  have 
letters  to  make  you  happy.  Your  father  and  mother 
send  you  love,  and  your  horses  must  know  you  are 
coming  home.  They  are  dancing  pictures!" 

"  Let  me  make  you  friends!  "  cried  the  happy  Katie, 
who  had  noted  already,  mischievously,  Alice  Leaven- 
worth's  blushes,  "  Colonel  Thomas  Bayard,  my  friend, 
Mr.  Manson.  You  must  be  comrades  too,  for  my  sake," 
said  the  audacious  beauty.  She  was  regaining  her 
kingdom. 

"  Right  heartily,"  cheerily  said  Bayard.  "  I  am  glad 
to  know  you,  Mr.  Manson.  You  have  the  '  star ' 
recommendations  on  the  Rio  Grande  when  you  are 
Miss  Katie's  friend." 

Jack  Manson  grasped  Bayard's  offered  hand.  The 
Texan's  bronzed  face,  broad  shoulders,  and  genial 
brown  eyes,  his  cavalier  mustaches,  and  free  stride,  pro- 
claimed him  a  genial  plainsman.  For  a  "  confederate 
fire-eater,"  his  ready  smile  and  the  pleasant  ring  of  his 
voice,  were  singularly  winning. 

In  an  hour,  a  pleasant  circle  at  the  St.  Charles  was 
ruled  by  the  audacious  little  Prairie  Queen. 


1 30  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

While  the  ladies  rested,  Colonel  Bayard  and  Manson 
smoked  the  evening  cigar  on  the  portico  of  the  famed 
old  hostelry.  Its  huge  pillars  had  sheltered  genera- 
tions of  the  princely  river  planters.  The  dome  of  the  old 
rotunda  below  them  had  re-echoed  the  voices  of  the  last 
generation  of  patrician  slave-owners  America  will  ever 
know. 

"  We  have  three  or  four  days  to  wait  here  for  our 
steamer.  You  must  allow  me  to  show  you  the  local 
lions,"  the  colonel  politely  said.  "  Our  young  ladies  have 
their  shopping  to  arrange.  There  are  also  many  family 
friends  to  call  on  them,  and  I  can  take  you  down  the  road 
and  you'll  meet  some  nice  men  at  the  Crescent  Club." 

Jack  Manson  felt  drawn  to  the  frank,  manly  bor- 
derer, and  they  rambled  together  over  the  old  city. 
Past  the  custom  house  where  the  national  flag 
drooped  over  granite  portals  guarded  by  troops,  down 
the  streets  thronged  with  the  vivacious  throng,  into  the 
old  French  quarter,  with  its  foreign  air  and  old  mansions 
closed  to  the  modern  American,  they  strolled. 

In  the  soft  starlight  the  deserted  avenues  seemed 
peopled  with  the  shades  of  quaint  old  Creole  characters 
and  the  romance  of  French  noble  and  knightly  advent- 
urer. Alas!  The  glory  of  the  old  time  was  fled  forever! 
In  timid  self-defense,  behind  their  lattices,  the  melting, 
dark  eyes  of  beauty  shone  no  longer.  It  was  the  deso- 
lation of  silence.  That  shadow  has  never  been  lifted 
which  fell  on  New  Orleans  when  stern  Farragut 
anchored  the  old  "Hartford  "  off  the  levee,  and  trained 
its  guns  on  a  mob  only  a  shade  less  frantic  than  the 
Commune. 

With  delicate  reserve  Manson  ignored  all  war  topics. 
Returning  to  the  hotel,  the  new  friends  avoided  the 
great  rotunda  saloon,  where  an  excited  mob  discussed 
the  "  situation." 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  13! 

"  Come  up  to  my  rooms,  Colonel,"  remarked  Man- 
son,  who,  in  secret,  desired  to  know  of  Maxan's 
whereabouts. 

"  You  are  right.  There's  hardly  room  enough  to 
get  shot  here  with  a  fair  show.  All  these  people  are 
crazy  on  politics,"  answered  the  Texan. 

Threading  the  grand  old  drawing-rooms,  where  the 
fairest  women  of  the  South  once  -lingered,  enchant- 
ing their  proud  suitors  by  a  perfection  of  graceful, 
indolent  charms,  they  learned  that  the  Leavenworths 
were  already  visiting  in  that  mysterious  "inner  circle" 
"  which  gently  but  positively  contracts  at  the  touch  of 
'  Northener,' "  leaving  the  stranger  without  its  invisible 
barrier. 

Proud,  patient,  silent,  unforgiving,  and  unforgetting, 
the  best  blood  of  the  South  is  linked,  with  really  touch- 
ing fidelity,  to  that  "  Lost  Cause  "  whose  flag  went 
down  in  battle  and  in  storm. 

The  "  entente  cordiale "  was  already  established 
between  the  two  men.  Bayard  frankly  told  Manson 
that  he  was  fully  advised  of  Si  Leavenworth's  con- 
nections, and  handed  him  a  brief  letter  extending  the 
hospitalities  of  San  Miguel.  It  finished  with  stating: 

Colonel  Bayard  has  my  full  confidence,  and  with  my  lawyer, 
Nordenskiold,  will  be  your  associate  in  many  affairs.  Please  do 
not  fail  to  go  with  him  and  meet  my  friend,  Chisholm. 

Discussing  a  few  points  of  the  enterprise,  Jack  Man- 
son,  already  watchful  (for  he  felt  the  change  of  social 
latitude),  carefully  interjected  the  name  of  Ramon 
Maxan. 

"  He's  a  queer  party ;  has  Mexican  blood  in  his 
veins.  Where  did  you  meet  him?  "  asked  the  Colonel 
with  some  surprise. 

Manson  recounted  briefly  his  acquaintance  with  the 
brilliant  Creole  at  Washington, 


132  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

Bayard  smoked  reflectively  and  dropped  into 
soliloquy.  "What  can  he  be  scheming  after  up  there? 
Why,  he  has  a  lordly  rancho  and  hacienda  on  the 
Mexican  side." 

"  So  he's  intimate  with  Senator  Steele?"  he  remarked 
interrogatively,  stifling  the  natural  Southern  epithet, 
«d — d  carpet-bagger." 

"  They  are  inseparable,"  replied  Manson,  tentatively. 
He  hoped  that  Colonel  Tom  would  unbosom  himself. 

"I  have  not  met  him  for  years,"  thoughtfully  said 
Bayard;  "since  I  went  to  the  border  after  the  war. 
Maxan  was  very  active  in  the  days  when  the  Rio 
Grande  was  our  only  safe  cotton  outlet  and  we  ran  in 
the  guns  and  munitions  we  could  not  get  elsewhere." 

"  There's  his  picture,"  said  Manson,  with  affected 
carelessness,  for,  in  the  first  days  of  florid  civility,  Jack 
had  been  favored. 

"Ah!"  said  the  Colonel,  "  Quite  a  cavalier!  Yes, 
that  is  the  man.  He  is  just  a  little  dangerous.  I 
think  I  would  keep  an  eye  on  him  if  he  rode  past  me 
on  the  prairie." 

Manson  was,  as  yet,  ignorant  of  the  code  of  the  road 
on  the  wild  Rio  Grande. 

"Hello!  You've  dropped  a  picture."  Bayard  stooped 
and  good-humoredly  handed  it  to  Jack  with  a  smile. 

He  could  not  avoid  seeing  the  face.  As  he  glanced  at 
it,  he  turned  eagerly  to  the  wondering  Manson  as  he 
cried : 

"By  God!  Bob  Kenyon's  runaway  wife.  Where 
did  yozt,  get  this?"  The  honest  Texan  was  wildly 
glaring  first  at  the  royal  beauty  of  Mildred  Smilev  and 
".hen  at  the  engineer. 

"  Tell  me  your  story  first,  Colonel,  then  I'll  tell  you 
mine,"  said  Manson,  as  Bayard  sank  into  a  chair,  his 
eyes  riveted  on  the  surpassingly  lovely  face  with  an 
expression  of  stern  hatred. 


FOR   LIFE   AND   LOVE.  133 

As  the  Texan  laid  the  picture  on  the  table  and 
essayed  to  speak,  a  sharp  knock  interrupted  him.  At 
the  door  stood  a  sable  attendant  with  four  cards  on  a 
silver  waiter.  His  ceremonial  manner  was  a  relic  of  the 
olden  days,  "befo'  de  wah!" 

Jack  Manson  silently  handed  the  visiting  cards  to  the 
tall  Texan. 

«  Speak  of  the  devil — "  muttered 'Bayard.  "  Here  he  is. 
What  is  Maxan  after?  " 

Jack  Manson  coolly  gathered  up  all  the  cards  again 
from  the  salver.  "  Was  the  visit  for  me  ? "  he  questioned, 
as  the  negro  servitor  gazed  at  this  wholesale  appropria- 
tion. 

"  De  gentleman's  down  in  de  drawi'n'-room,  sah.  He 
sen'  de  cyards  an'  his  compliments  to  you  an'  Mass 
Leavenworth  an'  de  young  ladies,"  replied  Niger 
Africanus,  with  a  flourish,  as  he  gazed  longingly  at 
the  half-dollar  in  Jack's  hand. 

*'  Say  that  the  whole  party  is  out  for  the  evening.  I 
will  see  Mr.  Leavenworth  when  he  returns." 

"Dat's  all? "  queried  the  negro,  pocketing  his  douceur. 

"  That's  all,"  sternly  said  Jack  as  the  door  closed. 

"  Now,  Colonel  Bayard,  we  must  act  quickly! "  cried 
Manson,  springing  to  the  Texan's  side. 

The  mist  of  years  was  clouding  Tom  Bayard's  eyes 
as  he  threw  down  the  woman's  pictured  face. 

"  Poor  old  Bob  !  "  he  muttered.  "  What's  up  Man- 
son?  "  he  eagerly  said. 

"  I  must  be  brief  with  you.  Do  I  assume  correctly 
that  you  have  a  personal  interest  in  a  member  of  Mr. 
Leavenworth's  family?  " 

For  Jack  remembered  Mrs.  Marshall's  gentle  hint, 
and  fair  Katie's  laughing  raillery.  The  three  warnings 
as  to  Maxan  came  back  in  full  force. 

"  Please  God,  Alice  Leavenworth  will  be  my  wife. 


134  FOR  LIFE  AXD  LOVE- 

I  have  loved  her  for  years,"  simply  answered  the  manly 
wooer  who  had  braved  the  swollen  Xueces  in  its  sudden 
furv  to  gaze  on  her  beloved  face. 

"  We  must  then  protect  her  sister  Katie — you  and 
I,"  cried  Manson.  "  You,  for  the  sake  of  gentle  Alice, 
and  I  owe  it  to  my  old  comrade,  Jimmy." 

"What  threatens  her?"  sternly  said  the  sunburnt 
Texan,  his  voice  as  clear  as  a  sentinel's  challenge. 

"  You  will  see  all  the  more  clearly  if  you  first  tell 
me  of  this  woman.  She  is  a  link  in  the  chain  closing 
around  the  girl  we  must  guard  till  her  parents  receive 
her,"  replied  Jack. 

"  To  be  brief,"  said  the  impatient  Texan  veteran,  the 
war  times  coming  back  to  him,  "  after  I  was  desper- 
ately wounded  at  Vicksburg,  I  was  paroled  and  taken  to 
Montgomery,  Alabama,  for  exchange.  It  was  a  close 
fight  between  death  and  the  Yankees  for  my  poor 
bones.  Well,"  said  he,  with  flashing  eyes,  "  I  pulled 
through  after  all,  and  joined  my  regiment  at  Atlanta, 
under  the  lion-hearted  Hood.  Dear  old  Bob  Kenyon,  a 
chum  of  mine,  was  Major  in  command,  and  they  gave 
me  a  royal  welcome  back. 

"  Some  ladies  of  Atlanta,  to  inspirit  our  boys,  pre- 
sented the  regiment,  through  me,  with  x  splendid  flag. 
The  boys  had  done  honor  to  the  Stars  and  Bars  at  the 
'  salient '  in  Vicksburg,  on  May  25th,  the  year  before, 
for  our  flag  was  literally  shot  to  pieces  there,  and  half  the 
regiment  lay  dead  around  it.  The  new  flag  and  the  other 
half  went  away  in  the  crater  fire  it  Leggett's  Hill, 
when  Hood  set  a  bloody  seal  on  his  rash  courage, 
and  offered  up  half  of  his  great  army,  on  a  mere 
point  of  honor,  to  fight  '  outside  of  Atlanta.' 

"  There  is  such  a  thing  as  too  dauntless  intrepidity 
in  a  general.  On  that  lovely  evening  when  I  received 
that  flag,  so  soon  to  be  steeped  in  our  best  blood,  Bob 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  l£5 

Kenyon  fondly  gazed  at  the  wonderful  loveliness  of  the 
woman  we  speak  of.  His  girl  wife,  whose  love  he  had 
won  by  his  reckless  heroism,  smiled  proudly  at  him  by  my 
side.  She  was  the  shining  star  of  a  circle  of  devoted 
women  whose  tears  fell  later  for  the  dead  defenders  of 
their  token.  Human  nature  was  keyed  up  then  to  a 
pitch  of  intensity  equalled  only  by  the  French  Revolu- 
tion or  the  late  Commune!  Love  and  laughter,  varied 
with  hate  and  tears,  were  daily  tidal  emotions.  The 
quickstep,  serenade,  and  waltz  changed  to  dirge  and 
funeral  march  without  notice.  In  the  midst  of  joy  and 
woe,  smiles  and  sighs,  Major  Kenyon's  strange  honey- 
moon was  an  alternation  of  battle-lulled  hours,  stolen 
visits,  occasional  leaves,  and  brief  camp  visits.  The 
wonderful  loveliness  of  Florence  Mortimer  carried  the 
ardent  man's  heart  by  storm.  The  dazzling  beauty  had 
voyaged  from  Mobile  to  Atlanta  to  search  for  a  wounded 
brother  who  died  later  in  her  arms.  It  was  in  such  a 
mood  the  spirited  Southern  girl  was  wooed  and  won. 

"  My  bad  luck  was  shifted  to  Kenyon  at  Peach  Tree 
Creek.  He  was  hard  hit  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Federals.  I  was  blinded  with  smoke  and  flame  when 
I  led  our  shot-torn  fragment  back  in  mute  despair,  after 
three  desperate  assaults.  Tell  me  Northern  men  wont 
fight!  "the  ex-rebel  cried.  "That  clay  they  were 
demons,  and  their  yell,  l  Remember  McPherson,' 
was  the  death-knell  of  our  peerless  veterans.  Our 
beloved  regimental  Stars  and  Bars  fluttered  to  the 
ground  to  be  grasped  by  the  stranger  and  conqueror. 
Never  again  did  it  float  to  the  breeze!  There  was  ho 
longer  a  semblance  of  the  ten  full  companies  I  was  so 
proud  of.  During  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  I  gave  Mrs. 
Kenyon  all  the  money  I  had  or  could  get.  I  sought 
relief  in  death.  We  learned  from  the  pickets  that 
Bob  Kenyon,  as  a  wounded  prisoner,  had  been  taken 


136  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

North.  When  Sherman  bounded  on  us  like  a  tiger, 
Mrs.  Kenyon  went  South,  and  I  heard  later,  escaped 
via  Mobile,  ran  the  blockade  to  Bermuda,  and  reached 
Europe.  I  was  told  after  the  war  that  she  queened  it 
with  Gwin,  Mason,  Slidell,  Erlanger  &  Co.,  at  the 
Confederate  quasi  embassy  at  Paris.  Since  then  I  have 
never  heard  of  her  till  to-night."  »• 

"  And  Major  Kenyon  ? "  questioned  Jack  Manson, 
eagerly. 

"  Wandered  away,  gave  himself  up  to  drink,  and 
is  a  flitting,  homeless  shadow.  I  believe  he  is  still  yet 
living.  His  mind  was  affected,  at  times,  by  the  shell 
wound  he  received.  Poor  Bob!  The  wreck  of  a  gal- 
lant soldier!  He  has  lands  of  great  value  yet  in  Texas. 
Whisky,  sorrow,  and  the  desertion  of  his  wife  dragged 
him  down! 

"  Now  tell  me  of  her.     Does  she  think  him  dead  ? " 

"  I  believe  so,"  Manson  said  guardedly,  "  for  I  think 
she  will  soon  marry  Senator  Steele.  I  believe  she  was 
married  in  Europe  to  a  rich  man  named  Smiley." 

Manson  recounted  the  situation  of  Mrs.  Mildred 
Smiley  and  the  splendors  of  her  home. 

"  Bob  Kenyon  may  be  dead.  I,  however,  doubt  it. 
Now,  this  Maxan,  what  connection  has  he  with  all 
this?"  Bayard  was  awakened  in  his  watchful  eager- 
ness. 

With  great  caution  the  engineer  unfolded  the  story 
of  Maxan's  growing  passion,  the  Washington  scenes, 
and  the  three  warnings. 

Colonel  Tom  Bayard  smoked  reflectively.  He  spoke 
slowly : 

"  I  don't  like  it  a  bit.  I  wish  the  young  ladies  were 
at  home  with  their  parents.  My  first  fear  is  that  this  mad, 
erratic  lover  may  thrust  himself  forward.  Now  Jimmy 
is  fiery  and  too  high-spirited — even  for  Texas!  If  the 


FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE.  137 

young  ladies  have  returned,  he  may  have  drifted  over 
to  the  Crescent  Club.  Let  us  walk  over.  I  wish  to 
register  your  name.  I  suppose  that  the  ladies  are  with 
the  Chisholms.  I  have  a  friend  there  to  escort  home 
with  our  party  to  Indianola.  We  must  keep  Maxan 
and  Jimmy  apart.  Once  at  San  Miguel,  Ramon 
Maxan  will  be  powerless  to  intrude.  Old  "Si"  guards 
his  home  as  a  tiger  its  den,  and  woe  to  the  man  who 
would  venture  there  uninvited.  But  these  Creole  people 
are  the  most  hot-headed  and  impulsive  in  the  world.  A 
fracas  in  New  Orleans  means  blood.  The  whole  com- 
munity is  half-crazed  with  pent-up  feelings  of  the  recon- 
struction quarrels,  war  enmity,  and  class  hatred. 

"  Let  us  remain  near  the  ladies,  and,  keeping  Leaven- 
worth  away,  be  watchful  of  Maxan."  Manson  agreed 
with  the  Texan,  and  they  wandered  through  the 
streets  to  the  Crescent  Club  rooms. 

After  the  formalities  of  the  introduction  of  Mr.  Jack 
Manson,  as  a  visiting  guest,  the  two  friends  strolled 
into  the  splendid  interior. 

"  It  will  be  a  temporary  home  for  you,  as  far  as  club 
life  goes,  on  your  visits  here,  and  our  associate,  Chis- 
holm,  is  vice-president  now.  Politics  may  distract  him 
to-night,  for  a  collision  between  General  Emory's 
regulars  and  the  McEnery  malcontents  may  occur  at  a 
moment.  I  will  call  to-morrow  at  the  bank  with  you. 
Chisholm  will  ask  you  to  his  home  and  I  will  go  over 
to-morrow  evening  with  you.  I  wish  you  to  meet  his 
family,  as  well  as  Mrs.  Wayne  Barker,  an  old  South- 
ern lady  who  will  travel  under  my  care." 

In  friendly  chat  with  several  hospitable  and  graceful 
clubmen,  Jack  Manson  was  soon  at  home.  "  I  am 
glad  Jimmy  is  not  here,"  whispered  Colonel  Bayard. 
"  We  will  quietly  keep  him  busy  should  he  come,  and 
take  him  home.  The  steward  says  he  has  not  come  in. 


138  FOR  LIFE  AND  LOVE:. 

But  Chisholm  is  upstairs  in  the  card-room,  I'm  told." 
The  colonel  smiled  as  he  said:  "Wait  here.  I  will 
bring  him  down,  if  I  do  not  break  in  on  a  four-handed 
game." 

Bayard  turned,  leaving  Manson  in  the  midst  of  a 
pleasant  circle  of  new  acquaintances. 

Jack's  eyes  roved  around  the  rooms.  No  sign  of 
Maxan  or  Leavenworth.  The  coast  was  clear.  The 
engineer  felt  relieved.  In  ignorance  of  the  chilling 
letter  of  Mrs.  Marshall,  Manson  decided  that  Maxan 
would  simply  repeat  a  formal  call,  satisfied  with  the 
message  sent  him. 

"  If  we  sail  so  soon,  there  can  be  no  contretemps 
here."  So  Jack's  brow  was  unclouded  as  he  entered 
the  wine-room  of  the  Club,  at  the  request  of  one 
of  Colonel  Bayard's  friends.  Seated  in  a  neat  alcove, 
while  sipping  a  glass  of  wine,  Manson  noted  the  delay 
of  Colonel  Bayard  in  his  return. 

"  Let  us  have  a  cigar,"  said  Achille  Bienvenue,  his 
entertainer.  "  They  may  be  a  long  time  deciding  the 
fate  of  this  jack-pot!" 

Manson's  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  door  in  stealthy 
watchfulness  awaiting  Colonel  Bayard,  when  suddenly 
Ramon  Maxan  appeared  at  its  curtained  portal.  His 
face  was  flushed,  and  he  was  followed  by  a  dark,  rest- 
less-looking young  Creole,  whose  studied  evening  dress 
bespoke  the  lounger  of  distinction.  Gliding  by  with 
snake-like  tread,  Ramon  Maxan  and  friend  seated 
themselves  in  an  adjoining  alcove.  By  a  chance  hazard 
Jack  Manson  did  not  catch  the  Creole's  eyes.  Yet,  in 
his  heart,  he  felt  that  the  baffled  visitor  had  observed 
him.  Jack  was  vaguely  uneasy. 

"If  Bayard  were  here,  I  would,  at  least,  have  a  wit- 
ness. I  can't  leave,  and  that  man's  face  looks  ominous." 

In  a  moment  his  nerves  were  at  the  normal. 


FOR   LIFE    AND    LOVE.  139 

But  with  one  ear  Jack  Manson  was  forced  to  hear  the 
rising  inflections  of  Maxan's  voice.  Striving  to  be 
polite  to  his  host,  the  engineer  watched  the  door.  The 
absent  colonel  still  lingered.  "  I  do  not  care  what 
happens,"  thought  Manson,  with  a  young  man's  pride, 
"  if  he  only  keeps  Katie's  name  out  of  his  talk." 
For  the  raised  tones  and  vicious  inuendoes  of  the 
excited  Creole  began  to  attract  attention.  Even  his 
host  became  uneasy.  The  references  made,  while 
sparing  Manson's  name  and  Miss  Leavenworth's,  were 
too  meaning  to  ignore  longer. 

Jack's  face  reddened  as  he  noticed  his  companion 
watching  him  with  eyebrows  furtively  lifted.  It  was  a 
clear  case  of  "  calling  him  down."  Reflecting  on  his 
duties,  on  the  possibility  of  scandal,  and  outraging 
club  hospitality,  Jack  Manson  smoked  steadily,  though 
his  face  was  ashen.  It  was  the  pallor  of  a  brave  and 
outraged  man,  nerving  himself  to  a  supreme  self-control. 

From  his  angle,  Maxan's  companion  could  observe 
Manson's  uneasiness.  A  telegraphic  glance  passed  to 
warn  Ramon  Maxan  that  his  words  were  heard  by 
others  than  the  quiet  Northern  visitor.  The  Creole's 
voice  was  raised  till  it  rang  out  clearly  in  its  venomous 
scorn. 

"Yes,  sir!  The  Yankee  coward  sheltered  himself 
behind  an  old  lady's  letter  and  insulted  me  through 
her.  But  I  will  see  her,  the  fair  Katie,  yet,  if  I  have 
to  ride  to  San  Miguel  alone.  He  lied  when  he  sent  me 
word  to-night  they  were  out." 

Like  a  panthei',  Jack  Manson  leaped  lightly  to  his 
feet  and  stood  before  Maxan.  The  "  running  mate  " 
of  the  slanderer  gazed  superciliously  at  Jack. 

Ramon  Maxan  on  his  feet  glared  like  a  crouching 
tiger,  his  hand  thrust  in  the  breast  of  his  waistcoat 
behind  a  white  silk  handkerchief.  Mr.  Achille  Bien- 


140  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

venue  stood  behind  Jack,  his  finger  lifted,  for  Colonel 
Tom  Bayard  and  the  impassive  Chisholm  stood  trans- 
fixed at  the  door.  The  loungers  at  other  tables  paused 
with  suspended  glasses,  and  a  hush  fell  on  the  room. 

"  You  used  my  name  with  disrespect  and  dragged  a 
lady  in  by  inference.  It  is  infamous!  " 

Maxan's  dark  eyes  glittered  with  deadly  light.  It 
was  the  supreme  moment. 

"  Ah !  You  wish  to  creep  into  Rancho  San  Miguel 
as  the  Texas  girl's  defender.  I — " 

The  rest  of  Maxan's  infamous  sneer  was  unfinished, 
for  Jack  Manson's  right  arm  caught  him  between  the 
eyes. 

There  was  a  crash.  Tables  and  glasses  went  down. 
A  general  rush  was  made  as  Maxan,  springing  to  his 
feet,  made  a  wild  rush  with  a  glittering  knife  in  his 
hand.  The  Parisian-bred  fencer  had  half  broken  the 
force  of  the  blow  by  a  slide  to  the  rear.  A  howl  of 
anguish  escaped  his  lips,  as  with  a  leap  Colonel  Tom 
Bayard  twisted  the  knife  out  of  his  uplifted  hand. 
The  wrist  was  broken. 

"You  treacherous  dog!  Insult  a  stranger  and  try 
assassination.  This  is  my  quarrel,"  sternly  said  Bayard. 

While  Maxan's  companion  and  a  volunteer  peace- 
maker restrained  the  Creole,  Jack  Manson  said : 

"  Gentlemen,  I  am  responsible  for  this;  I  only  regret 
the  place  and  any  such  occurrence."  Turning  to  Achille 
Bienvenue,  who  was  a  "  code  master  in  affairs  of 
honor,"  Jack  Manson  handed  him  his  card.  "  Will  you 
kindly  act  as  my  representative  ?  " 

"  Pardon!  "  said  Colonel  Bayard.  "I  have  been  the 
unwitting  cause  of  this.  May  I  act  with  Monsieur 
Bienvenue?"  Manson  bowed  with  dignity  and  left 
the  room  with  Bayard,  who  still  held  the  Creole's 
knife,  banker  Chisholm  walking  on  the  other  side. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


141 


In  a  private  room  the  three  awaited  the  return  of 
Bienvenue,  to  whom  a  frightened  steward  had  taken 
a  message  as  to  their  whereabouts. 

A  card  from  the  vice-president  of  the  Club  was 
brought  by  a  steward  following  Bienvenue,  whose 
eyes  now  gleamed  with  the  light  of  battle. 

"Monsieur  Maxan,  he  insist  on  ze  double  affaire," 
said  the  new-comer,  in  his  soft  French  patois.  "  I  have 
ze  personal  regret  I  have  not  understand  ze  enmity. 
I  have  state  ze  St.  Charles  as  ze  residence." 

Bienvenue  stood  with  punctilious  formality.  "  All 
right,  Achille.  We'll  both  fight,  of  course,  when  his 
wrist  gets  well,"  said  Bayard  fiercely.  "But  this  must 
be  kept  quiet.  It  is  infamous!  Is  he  drunk?"  con- 
tinued the  colonel. 

"  I  zink  he  is  only  crazee,"  plainly  said  Bienvenue, 
tapping  his  forehead  as  he  returned  to  the  scene  of 
action. 

"  We  must  get  home  before  Jimmy  Leavenworth 
hears  of  this,"  whispered  Bayard  to  Manson.  "  Steward, 
show  the  gentleman  in  and  call  a  carriage." 

In  his  stately  manner,  Chisholm  advanced  to  meet 
the  club  official.  Manson  and  Colonel  Bayard  merely 
bowed. 

"I  have  called  to  say  that  whatever  is  the  outcome  of 
this  unfortunate  affair,  there  will  be  perfect  silence,  and 
I  am  authorized  to  say  on  behalf  of  the  club  members 
that  the  violation  tff  our  traditional  hospitality  is 
deplored.  The  person  in  the  wrong  is  only  a  non- 
resident member.  As  the  cause  of  this  quarrel  is  for- 
eign to  us,  it  is  a  case  of 'noblesse  oblige.'  Mr.  Manson, 
I  offer  you  the  apologies  of  our  members.  I  shall  ask 
Mr.  Chisholm  to  step  in  with  me  and  personally 
receive  the  same  remarks  on  your  behalf." 

"  Very  proper,  very  considerate,"  said  the   banker, 


143 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


who  was  now  awake  to  all  the  serious  consequences  of 
Maxan's  mad  folly. 

"Eustis,  will  you  drive  over  to  the  telegraph  office 
h  me  when  we  are  done?     I  wish 
said  Chisholm  with  a  preoccupied  air. 

"  Certainly,"  replied  the  gallant  Louisianain,  whose 
face  bore  the  traces  of  a  profound  regret. 

"Await  me  here,  please,"  said  the  banker.  "I  will  not 
be  long." 

"  Thank  God  we  have  kept  Jimmy  safely  out  of  this," 
said  Bayard  to  Manson. 

Jack  nodded  gloomily.  His  three  warnings  and  his 
careful  uncle's  caution  returned  to  his  mind.  A  blood 
quarrel  on  his  hands  before  he  had  even  gained  a  sight 
of  Texas! 

"  Let  me  handle  Leavenworth  when  we  meet  him." 

"All  right,"  said  Jack,  rising,  as  Bienvenue  and 
Chisholm  returned. 

"  I  will  see  you  in  the  morning,  gentlemen,"  said  the 
banker.  "I  hope  to  extend  the  hospitalities  of  my  home 
to  you  now  and  in  the  future.  The  other  party  have 
gone." 

Escorted  by  Bienvenue,  the  two  friends  reached  the 
St.  Charles.  As  they  sought  Colonel  Bayard's  rooms, 
Chisholm,  at  the  main  telegraph  office,  gave  the  sleepy 
operator  a  double  fee  as  he  handed  him  a  dispatch 
marked  "  instant  delivery: " 

Spare  no  expense.  Come  here  instantly.  Deadly  trouble 
between  R.  M.  and  the  Northern  engineer.  Imperative.  Take  a 
special  engine.  Answer. 

It  was  signed  A.  R.  Chisholm,  and  addressed  Sena- 
tor Ezra  Steele,  Planter's  House,  Mobile,  Alabama. 

"  Send  the  reply  instantly  to  my  house.  A  man  will 
be  waiting  at  the  door."  Chisholm  dropped  a  bill  on 
the  desk  and  left. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  143 

"Some  political  fracas,  I  suppose!  There  will  be 
bloodshed  in  this  town,  I  fear,"  yawned  the  operator  as 
he  made  the  key  fly  under  his  ringer,  for  Chisholm  was 
a  haughty  autocrat. 

Silence  brooded  over  the  deserted  club-house.  The 
sobered  revellers  had  gone  home  in  deference  to  the 
vice-president's  wishes,  and  only  the  wondering 
negroes,  cleaning  away  the  debris,  whispered  with 
trembling  lips: 

"  Dey's  shuah  to  be  some  blood  spilt  on  his  hyere 
quarrel.  De  Yankee  man  was  dead  game,  too!  An' 
Mass  Bayard,  he's  a  powerful  desperit  shootah!" 

In  his  rooms  at  the  "St.  Louis,"  Ramon  Maxan,  his 
bruised  face  smarting,  and  his  broken  wrist  aching, 
swore  between  his  clenched  teeth  a  deadly  oath.  His 
second  had  retired  to  return  on  the  morrow.  "  You 
will  have  to  wait,  Ramon.  The  fates  are  against 
you  till  your  wrist  is  well.  You  can't  ^fight  now.  It 
is  a  puzzling  case,"  said  the  flaneur,  whose  enthusiasm 
was  considerably  dampened. 

"  I  will  stuff  that  woman's  letter  into  my  pistol  and 
drive  it  through  this  Yankee  cur's  heart  wrapped  round 
a  bullet.  Caramba!  As  for  Bayard,  I  will  waylay 
him  and  shoot  him  like  a  dog."  His  veins  swelled,  as 
he  swore  in  secret  that  Katie  Leavenworth  should  feel 
his  vengeance.  His  disgusted  friend  left  him  raving. 

"By  heaven!  I  have  it!  I'll  reach  the  whole  gang 
through  her."  He  tossed  for  hours  revolving  a  plan 
dark  with  murder  and  foulest  crime. 

Before  he  slept,  Chisholm,  still  awake,  read  the 
simple  word : 

Coming  — special  engine.    STEELE. 

"  Good,"  growled  the  worried  banker.  "  I'll  make 
him  muzzle  this  half-breed  fire-eater.  He  must  do 
it  for  the  R,  G.  Company," 


144  FOR   LIFE    AND   LOVE. 

The  slumbers  of  the  banker  were  disturbed  by  the 
haggard  senator,  who  had  left  a  night  of  "  poker  "  and 
politics  to  hasten  to  the  neighboring  city. 

Before  Bayard  had  completed  his  careful  story  to 
Jimmy  Leavenworth  over  the  morning  coffee  at  the 
St.  Charles,  while  the  sweet  sisters  slumbered  in  happy 
ignorance,  Senator  Ezra  Steele  was  seated  by  Ramon 
Maxan's  bed. 

"Have  you  done  anything  this  morning?"  he  asked 
roughly. 

"  Not  yet.  How  did  you  get  here  ? "  queried  the 
astonished  Creole. 

"That's  my  business!  Now,  sir!  I  will  not  be 
ruined  by  your  d — d  murderous  folly!  There's  a 
steamer  leaves  for  Tampico  at  noon.  You*  will  go  on 
it." 

"  And  be  branded  as  a  coward !  Never ! "  howled 
Max  an. 

"  Then  you  will  lose  forty  thousand  dollars  a  year, 
and  get  shot,  for  Bayard  will  kill  you,  if  the  other 
fellow  does  not.  Tom  Bayard  can  kill  a  quail  with  a 
pistol!"  shouted  the  infuriated  senator.  "  Chisholm 
told  me  you  acted  like  a  crazy  brute.  Look  out  for 
that  Texas  boy,  too.  He  will  be  as  wild  as  a 
Comanche." 

Chisholm  and  Steele  arrayed  against  him!  Maxan 
drew  a  long  breath.  Revenge  'was  dear  at  forty  thou- 
sand dollars  a  year.  "  I  must  do  the  deed  secretly," 
the  baffled  would-be  murderer  thought. 

"  But  my  character,"  he  urged. 

"I  will  take  care  of  it,  such  as  you  have!"  snorted 
Steele,  who  saw  his  own  future  endangered.  "  Listen ; 
Chisholm  will  attend  to  the  Club.  I  will  go  to  the 
steamer  myself  with  you.  You  could  not  fight  -these 
men  for  a  month.  You  shall  not  have  an  open  quarrel 


FOR    .LIFJi     AND    LOVE.  145 

now.  You  had  better  let  them  alone.  It  would  be 
traced  to  me.  If  you  do  not  do  as  I  bid,  I  will  turn  old 
'Si'  and  the  boy  loose  on  you.  They  would  chase  you 
to  Yucatan  and  '  wipe  you  out.' " 

"  When  does  your  friend  come  here  ? "  he  sharply 
said. 

"  At  nine,"  snarled  Maxan,  for  his  aching  wrist  bones 
told  of  the  herculean  Texan's  wrench. 

"  I  will  go  over  to  the  St.  Charles  with  him  and  we 
will  all  dine  at  the  Club  to-night — the  other  second  and 
Bayard,  as  well  as  Manson.  There  will  be  no  remark. 
I  will  arrange  all.  Chisholm  will  be  there,  but  not 
Jimmy  Leavenworth.  You  will  go  to  your  ranch  and 
wait  for  my  telegrams  via  Brownsville  and  Mata- 
moras.  Would  you  ruin  the  company?  Your  life 
would  not  then  be  worth  a  pinhead." 

"  Go  on,  fix  it  up,"  groaned  Maxan,  turning  his  face 
to  the  wall.  "  Let  me  see  my  friend  alone." 

"  All  right,  you  can  send  to  the  office,"  said  Steele, 
as  he  departed  in  victory.  Sending  a  note  to  Chisholm 
by  a  messenger,  Steele  sat  down  to  the  enjoyment  of  a 
giraffe  mint  julep,  and  a  sheaf  of  morning  journals. 

"  I've  done  a  rare  bit  of  work,"  he  smiled.  I  have 
tied  Chisholm,  old  Manson  and  the  engineer,  Jimmy 
Leavenworth,  and  Bayard  to  my  future  interests  by  this 
lucky  stroke.  But  I  must  watch  this  young  villain! 
He  is  a  born  murderer,  and  he  is  lying  to  me.  He 
means  to  draw  blood  by  and  by  in  some  sneaking  way; 
but  they  are  all  warned.  Let  them  fight  it  out." 

At  ten  o'clock  Senator  Steele's  superb  bit  of  character 
acting  was  over.  "  He  deplored,  etc.,";  and  with  the 
seconds,  and  after  an  interview  with  Bayard  and  Man- 
son,  he  returned  to  bear  away  Ramon  Maxan  to  the 
steamer  sailing  for  Tampico.  At  one  o'clock  he  dropped 
in  at  the  bank  to  notify  the  busy  Chisholm  of  the 
departure  of  the  Creole. 


146  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

It  was  a  happy  day  for  Jack  Manson  as  he  rode  down 
the  beautiful  shell  road  with  Katie's  sweet  eyes  shining 
on  him  in  the  tenderness  of  gratitude.  For  Jimmy  had 
easily  divined  Jack's  championship,  and  the  girl's  heart 
went  out  to  the  generous  man  who  risked  his  life  for 
her. 

Brother  Jimmy,  with  Mrs.  Wayne  Barker,  drove 
along  in  a  splendid  team  at  a  discreet  distance,  with 
Colonel  Bayard  and  Alice,  the  happiest  of  St.  Cecilias, 
on  the  rear  seat  in  quiet  converse. 

While  they  lingered  at  the  Lake  House,  Ramon 
Maxan  was  gazing  at  the  pictured  shores  of  the  "  Lower 
Coast  "  as  the  steamer  sped  along.  He  had  locked  his 
dark  secret  in  his  heart,  and  every  aching  throb  burned 
revenge  into  his  brain. 

For,  to  a  Creole,  an  unrequited  blow  means  blood 
even  across  the  mist  of  years.  The  awful  seal  of  a 
forfeited  life  can  alone  atone  for  the  past  disgrace. 

In  stately  fashion,  Senator  Steele  presided  over  the 
parting  dinner  at  the  Crescent  Club,  to  be  followed  by 
a  reception  at  the  banker's  lovely  home,  bowered  in 
ro~ses  and  magnolia.  It  was  evident  to  all  the  habitues 
that  a  formal  adjustment  had  been  effected.  The 
tongue  of  gossip  was  silent,  though  several  of  the 
younger  hot-bloods  quietly  wagered  a  champagne  din- 
ner that  Ramon  Maxan  would  wipe  out  the  insult  in 
blood  later. 

"  Wait,"  said  one.  "  Do  you  remember  how  he 
killed  Francois  Vargas  about  '  La  Rosita? '  The  Cuban 
thought  he  was  safe.  Ah,  Ciel !  Ramon  never  forgets !" 

For  all  these  gloomy  auguries,  there  was  peace  and 
happy  laughter,  with  best  wishes  following  the  part}-, 
as,  two  days  later,  they  gathered  on  the  ferryboat  stem- 
ming the  tide  to  Algiers. 

Chisholm   and   Senator    Steele    having    chivalrously 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE.  147 

presented  the  ladies  with  floral  adieux,  found  time 
separately  to  whisper  to  Jack  Manson  a  last  warning : 
"  Beware  of  Maxan.  He  is  unforgiving.  He  knows  the 
frontier.  This  fracas  will  keep  him  away  from  San 
Miguel.  Yet  the  border  is  lonely  and  he  may  attempt 
some  foul  stroke." 

Gazing  on  the  broad  bosom  of  the  Father  of  Waters, 
Jack  Manson's  bosom  swelled  with  manly  independence 
as  his  eye  rested  on  the  delicate  face  of  the  woman  he 
loved.  Her  laughing  eyes  grew  strangely  tender  as 
she  noted  Manson's  earnest  colloquy.  He  said  simply 
in  reply: 

"The  bortler  is  open  to  all,  and  Ramon  Maxan  can 
ride  it  unchallenged.  I  do  not  seek  him,  but  if  he 
harms  that  girl,  it  is  his  heart's  blood  or  mine! " 

The  two  leading  spirits  of  the  mysterious  company 
conferred  in  the  carriage  as  they  drove  home. 

"  Senator,  go  back  to  Mobile  at  once,"  said  Chisholm. 
"  There  will  be  a  bloody  conflict  here  between  the  rival 
governors  and  the  warring  police.  You  might  be 
involved.  Keep  away  from  political  circles.  Leave 
here  quietly,  as  we  must  not  lose  our  influence  over 
the  President.  You  and  No.  4  might  suffer,  and  also 
our  business  interests  later." 

"  You  have  done  a  noble  day's  work  with  those 
quarrelling  young  men,"  cried  Chisholm, as  they  parted. 

"Ah!  I  fear  the  end  is  not  yet  in  sight!"  gravely 
said  Steele,  as  he  descended  at  the  St.  Charles. 

Before  he  reached  Mobile,  the  square  of  New 
Orleans  was  alive  with  an  armed  mob  and  the  factional 
police  fighting  at  short  range  in  the  streets. 

Far  away,  through  gloomy  cypress  swamps,  and 
moss-laden  sycamores,  ghostly  in  this  mournfully 
waving  drapery,  the  pilgrims  to  Texas  journeyed  by 
rail  to  Brashear  City. 


148  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

There,  on  the  bayou  inlet,  on  its  sluggish  tide,  with 
watchful  alligators  sliding  along  the  oozy  flood,  the 
light  cockle-shell  steamer,  "  Gussie,"  waited  the  signal 
to  steam  out  of  the  river  inlet  to  the  wild,  cyclone-swept 
Gulf  of  Mexico. 

"Ho!  For  Texas!"  cried  Jack  Manson,  gaily, 
leaving  all  care  behind,  for,  by  his  side,  stood  the 
gentle  and  loving  girl  who  was  the  "one  fayre  mayde  " 
of  all  the  world  to  him  now. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

ON    THE     GULF THE    STORM    KING'S     WRATH THE 

SPIRIT    OF    LOVE OUT    OF    THE   JAWS    OF    DEATH. 

"Tnis  looks  like  the  River  of  Lethe!"  said  Jack 
Manson,  as  the  old  lake  boat,  "  Gussie,"  glided  away 
from  the  wharf  at  Brashear  City.  It  was  not  an  inspir- 
ing scene.  The  straggling  wooden  houses,  backed 
with  dense  pine  woods,  rested  on  the  ashes  of  the  old 
slave  barracks  burned  by  General  Banks'  army  in  an 
ignoble  skirmish.  A  few  listless  darkies  angled  for 
the  leathery  cat-fish,  with  long  fringed  mustaches, 
lazily  floating  in  the  heated  waters  of  the  turbid  inlet. 
As  these  dusky  fishermen  dangled  their  legs  over  the 
rickety  wharves,  huge  round-eyed  alligators  slid  along 
the  tide,  displaying  formidable  jaws,  a  gray,  stony 
glare  fixed  on  the  tempting  morsels  of  negro  flesh 
just  out  of  their  reach,  the  saurians  leaving  a  strong, 
musky  odor  on  the  polluted  air.  The  greasy,  leaden 
waters  of  the  bayou  blackened  under  the  heavy  pines 
and  cypress  of  the  muddy  swamp  banks,  whose  hum- 
mocks were  crowded  with  huge  copperhead  and 
moccasin  snakes. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  149 

From  the  shores  of  the  bayou,  a  hundred  yards  wide, 
the  cane-brake  led  away  into  the  pathless  interiors — 
those  weird,  silent  tangles  where  ferocious  slave  hunters 
once  chased  the  desperate  and  defiant  runaway  African 
with  canoe,  torches,  rifles,  and  slavering  blood-hounds. 

From  the  gray  trees,  dying  in  the  poisoned  waters, 
hung  clouds  of  the  thin,  filmy  gray-green  Southern 
moss.  It  was  a  scene  of  gloomy  silence,  broken  only 
by  the  dash  of  the  two  forty-foot  paddle  wheels  of  the 
steamer  and  the  semi-profane  caution  of  the  anxious 
pilot  to  his  subordinates.  Clouds  of  cormorants  and 
flights  of  buzzards  sailed  slowly  away  as  the  yellow 
sun  sickened  and  died  in  the  west.  There  was  a  broken, 
coppery  look  to  the  sky. 

"Our  sunny  Southern  home!"  remarked  Manson, 
with  an  unconscious  sneer. 

"Wait  till  you  see  the  emerald  sea  of  a  Texas 
prairie.  Wait  till  you  ride  alone  through  a  ten- mile 
grove  of  cactus  in  blossom,  showing  richer  dyes  than 
the  crimson-hearted  rose,  the  Tyrian  purple,  or  the 
blue  and  golden  blossoms  of  the  Lotos  Land,"  said 
Katie  Leavenworth.  "  This  is  a  forgotten  River  of 
Silence." 

They  were  sitting  alone  on  the  upper  deck  of  the 
metamorphosed  old  lake  boat. 

Sister  St.  Cecilia,  with  tact,  was  watching  over  that 
dejected  matron,  Mrs.  Wayne  Barker,  in  the  "bridal 
chambers,"  so  called,  as  two  shabbily  decorated  double- 
sized  state-rooms  usually  are  named  down  in  Dixie's 
Land. 

Below,  in  the  saloon,  Colonel  Tom  Bayard  and 
Brother  Jimmy  were  engaged  in  a  long  and  serious 
conversation.  From  occasional  words  overheard 
through  the  open  ventilators,  Jack  realized  that  the 
veteran  was  gravely  unfolding  to  the  heir  of  San 


I^O  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Miguel  the  facts  of  Ramon  Maxan's  wild  impru- 
dence. 

Anxious  to  spare  "  Miss  Bright  Eyes  ''  any  anxiety 
as  to  the  future,  Manson  paced  the  long  upper  deck 
with  Katie  clinging  to  his  arm.  The  sun  was  sinking 
in  fiery-red  clouds  as  the  Gussie  swept  out  upon 
the  green  waters  of  the  Gulf,  leaving  the  gloomy  wind- 
ings of  the  bayou  behind  them. 

The  winds  were  rising  and  lashing  the  shallow  waters 
into  yeasty  foam,  as  the  flaming  disk  suddenly  dropped 
and  evening  darkness  hid  the  low  shores  of  Louisiana. 
On  the  port  quarter  a  flash-light  shone  out  over  the 
Gulf  at  the  mouth  of  the  Pass. 

"Let  us  go  down!  I  pray  there  will  be  no  storm," 
said  the  gentle  girl,  shivering  slightly.  "  These  Gulf 
cyclone  storms  are  terrific." 

When  the  party  were  seated  in  the  dining  saloon, 
gorgeously  hideous  in  flashy  ornament,  the  bronzed 
captain  showered  every  attention  on  the  party  whose 
social  prominence  made  them  especially  worthy  of  his 
care. 

A  river  and  gulf  sailor  of  experience,  Captain  Ludlow 
knew  every  twist  of  the  Father  of  Waters  and  every 
inlet  of  the  dangerous  Texan  coast. 

"Wind  rising,  Captain?"  said  Bayard,  cheerily, 
noticing  the  grave  air  of  the  sailor. 

"  Yes,  a  little  too  much,  Colonel,"  the  mariner  replied ; 
"  we  have  a  light  cargo." 

There  was  a  decided  air  of  preoccupation  on  Leaven- 
worth's  face,  for  he  was  pondering  over  the  Colonel's 
disclosures.  He  had  caught  a  few  hints  of  some  trouble 
at  the  Club,  and  now  he  recognized  in  Ramon  Maxan  a 
sneaking  enemy  of  unfathomable  wiles. 

"  I'd  like  to  look  at  him  along  a  Winchester  barrel, 
the  half-breed  Mexican  cur!"  Jimmy  grimly  soliloquized. 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE.  151 

"  I  must  put  Jack  up  to  all  the  border  tricks.  I'll  give 
him  old  Don  Basilic  to  watch  over  him." 

A  quiet  settled  over  the  table  soon,  as  the  creaking  of 
timbers,  howling  of  the  rising  gale,  and  a  sudden 
change  in  the  vessel's  speed,  announced  the  gathering 
of  the  storm-furies.  With  a  meaning  glance  the  Chief 
Engineer  excused  himself  and  sought  his  engine-room. 

"  I  think  I  will  retire,"  faltered  Mrs.  Barker,  with 
furtive  glances  at  the  younger  women. 

Assisted  by  their  friends,  the  three  ladies  sought  their 
cabins,  and  there  was  no  joviality  around  the  half- 
deserted  tables  as  the  young  men  returned.  There  were 
but  few  other  passengers,  and  little  was  heard  save  the 
mournful  howling  of  the  rising  storm  and  the  dash  of  the 
broken  waves,  throwing  volumes  of  salt  spray  high  over 
the  smoke-stacks. 

"  Is  this  sort  of  thing  usual?  "  queried  Jack  Manson. 

"We  of  ten  run  into  these  circular  storms,"  replied  Bay- 
ard. "The  'northers'  sweep  around  the  western  shores 
of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  are  turned  in  by  the  Florida  Capes 
and  swing  around  backward  here  along  the  coast.  If  we 
cut  through  it,  we  may  run  easily  in  at  Indianola.  If 
we  must,  we  will  run  around  with  it.  To  try  and  head 
these  tornadoes  would  blow  the  works  and  machinery 
out  of  the  boat  in  six  hours.  These  old  things  are  only 
knocked  together  with  nails  and  a  hammer.  It  prom- 
ises to  be  a  nasty  night!  I  have  buffeted  around  here 
a  week  trying  to  run  in  to  Galveston,  Indianola,  or  get 
back  to  New  Orleans. 

"  I  wish  the  ladies  were  safely  on  shore,"  the  Con- 
federate concluded,  as  he  passed  the  cigars  and  gazed 
at  his  friends. 

Jack  and  Bayard  watched  from  the  cabin  windows 
the  black  driving  clouds  with  a  silver  star  now  and 
then  breaking  through.  The  decks  below  were  noisy 


'52 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


with  the  hoarse  echoes  of  command  and  sharp  reply,  as 
the  negro  roustabout  deck-hands,  urged  by  the  officers, 
secured  all  for  the  night. 

«'  These  old  walking-beam  engines  are  by  no  means 
too  safe,"  muttered  Bayard,  as  the  frail,  top-heavy  boat 
settled  in  the  swooping  waves,  with  a  creaking  groan 
and  shiver  of  her  timbers,  or  pounded  into  the  irregular 
seas,  striking  her  with  heavy  blows,  making  everything 
on  the  tables  dance  in  wild  confusion. 

Above,  the  straining  of  sails  and  trampling  of  feet 
told  of  the  efforts  to  steady  the  storm-beaten  vessel. 

Leavenworth  thoughtfully  devoted  the  hours  till  late 
midnight  encouraging  his  now  frightened  sisters. 

"  Thank  heavens!  They  are  asleep  at  last!  "  cried  the 
young  Texan,  as  he  groped  his  way  along  the  swaying 
cabin  floors.  Bayard  and  Manson  were  ready  to  seek 
the  precarious  shelter  of  their  cabins. 

"  There  is  no  danger?"  queried  the  anxious  lover. 

"Not  yet,"  replied  Jimmy  Leavenworth  cautiously,  as 
the  Captain,  enveloped  in  a"souwester"  and  stalking  in 
sea  boots,  brought  a  goodly  share  of  the  storm  in  with 
him,  as  he  sought  his  midnight  coffee. 

"  It's  as  mean  a  night  as  I  ever  saw  on  the  Gulf,  and 
the  storm  is  rising!  I'm  afraid  for  that  working  party 
and  the  light-keepers  at  the  Pass,"  growled  Ludlow. 
"  I  wish  to  heavens  I  had  a  hundred-ton  fishing  schooner 
under  me  and  was  out  on  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland 
to-night.  We  have  no  place  to  run  to  here!  The 
nearest  harbors  are  all  dangerous.  It's  like  sailing  in  a 
boiling  pot,"  concluded  the  disgusted  skipper. 

"  What's  the  matter  with  the  Pass  light-house? "  said 
Bayard  to  break  the  pause. 

"  Your  Confederate  friends  burned  down  all  the  Gulf 
light-houses  during  the  war,  and  Uncle  Sam  is  taking 
his  time  to  rebuild  them.  The  twenty-five  men  in  that 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE.  153 

half-finished  iron  cage  at  the  Pass  may  be  swept  off 
to-night.  It  was  suicidal  to  destroy  all  those  light- 
houses and  beacons.  Now,  I  can  see  the  beacons  and 
range  flags  at  Tndianola  in  the  day,  but  I  might  run  her 
dead  on  shore  at  night.  I  can't  see  in  the  dark ! " 

The  captain  was  wrathy. 

"And  if  we  went  ashore?  "  modestly  questioned  Jack 
Manson,  for  his  heart  leaped  up  at  the  thought  of  the 
fair,  dear  head  pillowed  near  him  on  this  wild  night, 
with  only  a  plank  keeping  away  the  angry  waves. 

"  The  Gussie  would  be  spread  along  five  miles  of 
beach  in  ten  minutes,"  snapped  out  the  captain,  as  he 
grasped  his  outer  coverings  and  went  forth  to  battle 
with  the  storm-fiend. 

Throughout  the  weary  hours  till  morn,  Manson's  tired 
brain  was  thronged  with  pictures  born  of  the  excitable 
hours  of  the  voyage.  The  winding  bayous,  where 
Lafitte  and  his  bearded  sea  banditti  once  reigned  (mur- 
derers and  sea  rovers  under  the  skull  and  crossbones), 
seemed  to  bear  in  victory  the  black  flag  once  more! 
Barrataria's  dim  retreat,  pictured  in  fancy,  seemed  alive 
with  lusty  pirates,  their  sashes  bristling  with  pistols. 
Around  their  camp-fires,  the  freebooters  on  shore,  wild 
with  rum,  crazed  by  victory,  wagered  their  doubloons 
at  cards  for  the  choice  of  some  fair  captive. 

The  breeze,  sweeping  down  the  great  plains  and  from 
the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  whispered  old  legends  of 
the  days  when  Ponce  de  Leon  and  De  Soto  unfurled 
the  bloody  flag  of  cruel  Spain  under  the  blue  Floridan 
skies,  or  bore  it  to  the  shores  of  the  mighty  stream,  at 
once  bold  De  Soto's  glory  and  tomb!  La  Salle,  an 
inland  Columbus,  had  floated,  awe-stricken,  down  the 
great  Father  of  Waters  toward  the  Gulf  whose  breezes 
had  blown  over  the  peaceful  waters,  the  gorgeous 
Spanish  ensign,  the  Bourbon  lilies,  the  battle-torn 


154 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


Union  Jack,  and  on  which  the  Stars  and  Bars  had 
flaunted  when  the  ill-fated  Hatteras  sank  under  the  guns 
of  that  peerless  ocean  rover,  the  Alabama. 

The  romance  of  four  centuries  of  piracy,  slave-trad- 
ing, and  smuggling,  the  dark  mysteries  of  a  hundred 
maritime  atrocities  linger  around  the  grassy  keys,  the 
winding  inlets,  and  coral  reefs  of  the  Gulf  whereon 
Spain,  France,  England,  Mexico,  and  the  United  States 
warred  for  the  final  dominion  of  vast  Texas. 

Dashing  onward  toward  Padre  Island,  the  uneasy 
sleeper  dreamed  of  Katie  Leavenworth;  of  a  quest  for 
the  unfound  buried  treasures  of  bold  Lafitte,  on  the 
Texan  Island,  his  favorite  lair.  The  scattered  silver 
"  pieces  of  eight"  of  the  vanished  pirates  were  leading 
him  to  the  hidden  hoard!  In  these  wild  dreams,  the 
sinuous  form  of  Ramon  Maxan,  his  scowling  face  dis- 
torted with  passion,  appeared,  a  tiger  on  the  path,  his 
blazing  eyes  fixed  on  the  lady  of  his  dreams. 

There  was  a  loud  crash  as  Jack  Manson  awoke.  The 
sound  of  woman's  voice,  in  frantic  terror,  was  heard! 
Manson  sprang  up  and  hurried  to  the  cabin.  A  wild 
tempest  was  blowing  off  shore, and  in  the  gray  light  of 
morning,  the  low  sandy  shores  of  Galveston  Bay  were 
visible.  The  cabin  was  thronged  with  half-dressed 
and  excited  passengers.  Colonel  Tom  Bayard  stood  at 
the  main  cabin  stairs,  a  haggard  look  on  his  face. 

"  What's  up?"  called  Jack,  through  the  din  of  the 
storm. 

"  We  had  to  go  about  or  go  on  shore !  We 
came  near  rolling  over  !  This  old  flat-bottomed  tub 
may  be  our  coffin  ! "  grimly  said  Bayard. 

He  muttered  into  Jack's  ear:  "The  Captain  told  me 
to  keep  all  the  passengers  in  here.  Jimmy  is  with  his 
sisters.  The  ship  is  working  well  now,  and  we  may 
run  outside  of  it.  They  blow  over  in  three  days,  these 
northers."  Bayard  motioned  him  nearer. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  155 

"  Get  yourself  well  iixed,"  he  said,  with  a  significant 
glance  at  his  own  revolver,  strapped  on.  "  We  might 
need  them  in  the  boats,"  he  sternly  said,  "  if  it  comes  to 
that  !  " 

From  his  window,  Jack  Manson  eyed  the  rolling 
green  billows,  their  tops  blown  keenly  off,  as  if  cut 
with  a  knife,  by  the  sixty-knot  tornado  driving  the  boat 
back  toward  the  Mississippi  Delta.  The  few  rags  of 
sail  and  the  half-speed  working  of  the  engines  served 
to  guide  the  Gussie  over  the  rugged  quartering  seas, 
lifting  one  racing  wheel  high  out  of  the  water  in  the 
shock  of  their  blows. 

It  was  a  wild  and  awful  scene  on  the  Gulf  !  Gray, 
ghostly,  storm-wrack  clouds  were  blown  past,  and  the 
wearied  crew,  with  life-lines  attached,  crawled  about 
the  decks  whereon  no  passenger  was  allowed  to  venture. 
In  the  cabins  the  frightened  negro  stewards  mechan- 
ically pottered  among  the  debris  of  the  table-service, 
while  in  the  pilot-house,  the  stern  captain  watched  every 
plunge  of  the  overstrained  boat  in  the  relentless  seas. 

From  hour  to  hour,  after  Manson  rejoined  the  Con- 
federate Colonel,  Jimmy  brought  tidings  of  the  woes  of 
Mrs.  Wayne  Barker,  the  steady  fortitude  of  Alice,  and 
Katie's  bright  bravery. 

"Take  my  place,"  whispered  Tom  Bayard  to  the 
brother,  as  he  sought  the  room  of  the  women.  There 
were  happy  tears  in  Alice  Leavenworth's  eyes  when 
Bayard's  few  words  made  her  heart  bound. 

"  I  am  here,  near  you;  all  will  be  well!  "  The  war- 
worn soldier's  heart  beat  high  at  the  glances  of  the 
loving  eyes  turned  on  him  in  their  distress. 

The  day  crawled  on,  the  even  scourge  of  the  storm 
beating  the  angered  waters  like  a  mighty  flail. 

Before  sunset,  Captain  Ludlow  entered  the  cabin  and 
cheered,  with  a  nod  of  approbation,  Katie  Leavenworth, 


156  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

who  was  seated,  propped  up  with  pillows,  in  a  corner. 
Her  little  hand  was  nestling  in  Jack  Hanson's  brown 
palm.  There  were  few  words  spoken  as  the  anxious 
hours  crawled  away.  In  another  corner,  steadfast 
Alice  calmly  read  the  solemn,  yet  comforting  words  of 
her  prayer-book.  Beside  her  Tom  Bayard  sat  when 
the  captain  motioned  him  to  the  centre  of  the  cabin. 

"  Tell  the  other  two  men  I  don't  wish  you  to  go  to 
sleep  till  you  hear  from  me  to-night.  The  boat  is 
heavily  strained.  I  may  have  to  throw  the  cargo  over. 
It  has  shifted  some.  Don't  alarm  the  women  unneces- 
sarily." 

"  What  did  he  say?"  murmured  Alice,  as  her  lover 
regained  her  side. 

"  Nothing.  We  are  doing  well,"  the  stalwart 
Texan  answered,  but  there  was  a  look  of  intense  affec- 
tion in  his  brown  eyes.  They  could  not  lie,  even  to 
cheer  the  woman  he  loved  more  than  his  own  life! 

Without  another  word,  she  closed  her  hand  in  his. 
"Don't  leave  me,  Tom,"  she  simply  said,  as  her  frank, 
steady  glance  rested  on  his  grave  face. 

The  soldier  raised  the  little  hand  to  his  lips. 

"  My  own  Alice,"  he  whispered,  "  pray  for  us  all. 
Say  nothing  to  Katie.  It  will  do  no  good ! " 

Their  eyes  anxiously  turned  to  where  the  girl  sat,  her 
eager  face  fixed  on  Jack  Manson  at  her  side. 

"  We  will  do  all  we  can."  The  lovers  were  silent, 
as  the  darkness  of  night  threw  a  greater  gloom  upon 
them  all.  Mrs.  Barker  was  unconscious  in  a  sleep  of 
exhaustion,  and  at  the  cabin  gangway,  James  Leaven- 
worth,  a  stern  sentinel,  watched  the  doors.  Without, 
the  storm-king  raged  in  even  wilder  wrath!" 

As  the  evening  wore  on  the  sullen  plunges  of  the 
steamer  became  heavier,  and  the  shivering  thrill  of  her 
timbers  more  sickening.  By  pre-arrangement,  Colonel 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  157 

Tom  Bayard,  with  well-feigned  cheerfulness,  persuaded 
the  sisters  to  rest. 

"  We  will  lie  down,"  answered  Alice,  after  consulta- 
tion, "  but  only  to  rest.  If  anything  occurs  you  must 
call  us." 

"  Very  well,"  answered  Bayard.  "  The  captain 
might  find  an  inlet  to  run  into.  I  would  lie  down  and 
sleep  if  I  were  you." 

It  was  a  pious  fiction  to  impress  those  who  might 
overhear,  as  well  as  to  cheer  the  daughters  of  Texas. 

Left  alone,  Manson,  Bayard,  and  Leavenworth  faced 
each  other  silently.  It  was  in  sullen  despair!  Bayard 
pressed  Jack's  hand  significantly  as  Jimmy  finally  burst 
out:  "I  do  not  care;  but,  my  God,  the  girls!  It  will 
kill  the  dear  old  mother!"  There  was  a  sob  in  the 
young  plainsman's  voice! 

"Jimmy,  we  will  stand  by  to  the  last,"  cried  Bayard. 

"  I  know  it.  God  bless  you  both,"  said  the  Texan, 
as  he  clasped  Jack's  hand  in  silence. 

Twelve  o'clock.  A  howling  midnight!  The  eight 
bells,  struck  in  mere  habit,  sounded  ominously  like  the 
tolling  of  the  wave-washed  bell  on  a  floating  wreck, 
in  the  wild  sea  gusts  of  spray  and  rain.  Captain  Lud- 
low  entered  the  cabin.  His  face  was  haggard  in  the 
stern  intensity  of  a  sailor's  last  resolve.  The  three  men 
joined  him  at  a  table  under  the  wildly  swinging  lamp. 
The  few  exhausted  fellow  passengers  lay  around  on 
benches  in  ignorance  and  peevish  discomfort. 

Ludlow  hoarsely  whispered:  "  She  has  three  feet  of 
water  in  the  hold.  I  shall  get  her  about  and  run  for 
Indianola.  Our  patent  log  is  carried  away.  Dead  reck- 
oning shows  us  now  in  the  radius  of  the  southwest  Pass- 
light.  That  is  gone,  with  all  on  the  structure!  In  an 
hour  we  would  run  ashore  on  the  Delta.  I  will  keep  the 
cargo  in  her  till  we  get  around.  Then  I  shall  call  the 


158  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

whole  crew,  and  throw  out  all  I  can  to  trim  ship,  and 
call  all  hands,  passengers  and  all,  to  the  pumps.  It's 
our  last  show.  Now,  gentlemen,  my  officers  are  nearly 
done  for.  When  I  set  all  at  the  pumps,  I  shall  put  you 
three  in  charge.  I  count  on  you  alone.  Don't  fear  to 
use  every  argument,  if  needed,  to  enforce  obedience  and 
order.  One  of  you  can  watch  over  the  ladies  and  stand 
by.  Stay  here  till  I  send  a  quartermaster  for  you.  Bet- 
ter see  the  ladies,  one  of  you." 

Leavenworth  resolutely  sought  his  sisters  and 
informed  them  of  the  going  about  of  the  vessel. 

With  a  fearful  careening,  the  boat  swung  into  the 
teeth  of  the  storm,  and  when  she  breasted  the  quarter- 
ing waves,  digging  into  the  swell  at  half  speed,  there 
was  a  floating  mass  of  debris  entangling  the  half- 
drowned  sleepers  in  the  after  cabin.  A  green  walled 
wave  rolling  over  had  crushed  the  after-cabin  upper- 
works  like  an  egg-shell. 

In  a  voice  of  thunder,  Captain  Ludlow  yelled  as  he 
sprang  in:  "  Stop  this  hubbub!  We're  all  right  now." 
The  three  friends  were  shaming  the  men  into  obedience. 

Four  hours  later,  the  steam  pump  working  at  its 
fullest  power,  with  a  hundred  tons  of  shifted  cargo, 
jettisoned,  the  Gussie  drove  along  toward  the  Texan 
shore  once  more.  The  sickly  gray  of  dawn  showed 
them  a  wild  waste  of  waters,  and  in  the  distance  a  strug- 
gling bark  and  a  full-rigged  ship  driving  close-reefed 
before  the  wind.  At  the  two  donkey  pumps,  with  set 
teeth,  the  frightened  passengers  toiled  in  two  reliefs; 
a  third  squad,  under  Jack  Manson,  in  readiness,  supplied 
instant  help,  when  a  tired  man  fell  out.  In  charge, 
Bayard  and  Leavenworth  encouraged  the  laboring 
passengers. 

Forward,  the  exhausted  crew  rested  in  the  fore- 
castle, awaiting  the  abatement  of  the  howling  gale,  or 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


'59 


gloomily  speculating  on  the  ability  of    the   now    over 
strained  boat  to  ride  the  sharp-fanged  surges. 

"D — n  me!"  cried  old  Liverpool  Jimmy,  a  deep  sea 
tar.  "  If  we  were  only  out  of  this  boiling  pot  we  could 
run  out  to  sea  somewhere.  It's  my  last  trip  in  a  flat- 
bottomed  old  <  laker.'  If  we  hit  the  Texas  sand-bars, 
the  '  Gussie  '  will  be  splinters  in  no  time.  Yer  Yankee 
match  box !  "  the  irate  reefer  cried. 

Scurrying  around  the  slanting  decks,  cup  and  bowj 
in  hand,  the  negro  waiters  essayed  to  distribute  soup 
and  coffee.  Their  eye-balls  rolled  wildly,  and  on 
their  dark  faces  the  sickly  ashen  pallor  of  fear  was 
plainly  visible. 

Hour  after  hour  crawled  on.  The  gloom  of  an  ugly 
silence,  portentous  in  suggestion,  unnerved  the  workers 
at  the  pumps.  Finally,  with  an  oath,  a  stalwart  pas- 
senger left  the  brakes.  His  task  was  only  begun. 

"  What's  the  matter?"  sternly  questioned  Bayard. 

"I'm  no  d — d  fool  to  work  like  a  horse.  I've  had 
enough,"  cried  the  stubborn  malcontent.  Several 
others  followed  the  leader. 

"Jump  back  to  that  bar  or  I'll  scatter  your  brains 
over  the  deck!"  said  Tom  Bayard,  as  he  clapped  a 
revolver  to  the  man's  head. 

"  There  are  women  on  board ! "  rang  out  the  Colonel's 
voice.  "  Show  yourself  a  man.  Here,  take  my  pistol 
and  watch  me  work !  "  The  others  laid  hold  and  a 
shout  went  down  the  wild  wind.  It  was  the  awaken- 
ing spirit  of  men  willing  to  face  fate  at  the  last  like 
heroes! 

In  an  hour,  through  blinding  gust  and  wild  commo- 
tion, the  captain  shouted,  his  face  lightening  for  the 
first  time  in  a  day:  "  We  gain  on  the  leak!  Steady, 
boys,  and  I'll  see  you  through  yet ! " 

The  Gussie   moved   more  lightly  on  her   long  tack 


l6o  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVK. 

across  the  Gulf.  As  the  evening  shadows  began  to 
fall,  cups  of  stiff  grog  animated  the  toilers  at  the  pumps. 
A  cheer  went  up  as  the  captain  laid  off  one  pump  gang 
to  rest.  "  She's  all  right  if  her  seams  don't  open 
further.  One  oump  will  keep  her  down  now  with  our 
engine." 

And  still  the  storm  howled  on!  The  waves,  lathed 
by  the  two-days'  full  play  of  the  eleme»ts,  rolled  in  huge 
jmasses  over  the  shallowing  bottom.  As  bell  after  bell 
tapped  off  the  half -hours  with  hollow,  resonant  clang, 
in  the  cabin  the  three  women  gazed  at  their  protectors, 
bent  on  aid  and  counsel  to  the  still  vigilant  captain. 
Fortitude,  woman's  brightest  jewel,  came  to  their  aid. 
Calm-browed  St.  Cecilia  Alice  gazed  with  fond  earn- 
estness at  her  spirited  sister.  The  gray-haired  matron, 
Mrs.  Barker,  forgot  to  moan,  and  on  her  face  shone  the 
calm  resignation  of  that  devoted  sex  whose  life-long 
burden  of  pain  and  heart-ache  seems  to  be  the  unsolved 
mystery  of  the  world! 

At  ten  o'clock,  Captain  Ludlow  approached  the  three 
friends,  for  a  volunteer  relief  was  now  handling  the 
one  working  pump. 

"  My  officers  are  now  rested.  I  must  be  all  right  for 
the  morning,"  said  he,  his  steady  sailor  eye  flashing. 
"  We  shall  be  off  Indianola  by  daylight.  I  shall  take 
my  sleep  now  for  I  will  be  called  at  the  first  light.  I 
will  rouse  you  instantly  then.  Rest  yourselves.  Gen- 
tlemen, we  can  not  tell  what  daylight  may  bring,  but 
there  will  be  no  doubt  when  morning  comes  where  we 
are.  What  to  do  then,  is  another  thing!  " 

As  the  sisters,  clinging  to  Bayard  and  Jack,  sought 
the  safer  shelter  of  their  cabins,  a  world  of  tenderness 
beamed  in  their  glances.  No  olden  knights  could,  on 
bended  knee,  swear  fealty  truer  than  the  men  who  for- 
got self  in  this  hour  of  awful  uncertainty. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  l6l 

Even  in  the  wild  tumult  of  the  night,  Jack  Manson 
felt  a  spirit  of  love  abroad  to  be  a  bright  harbinger  of 
good  cheer.  The  sweet  Texan  girl's  voice  thrilled  his 
very  marrow,  as  she  frankly  clasped  his  hand  in  fond 
"  Good-night.  I  know  you  will  be  near  me.  Let  me 
know  the  truth,  if — if — ."  Her  voice  broke,  as  the 
tears  rilled  her  eyes. 

"  God  bless  and  guard  you.  I  shall  not  sleep.  Will 
that  make  you  happier?  I  will  watch  here,  near  you." 

Jack  fought  manfully  with  his  bounding  heart  in  the 
mad  desire  to  fold  her  stainless  innocence  to  his  loving 
breast,  and  whisper :  "  Darling,  be  of  good  cheer." 

The  rose-flush  on  Katie  Leaven  worth's  face  paled  to 
marble,  as  on  her  knees  the  girl  knelt  to  the  God  above, 
in  a  prayer  wafted  far  beyond  the  Storm-King's  wrath! 

Strange  fantasy  of  bright  womanhood!  A  smile 
was  on  the  girl's  face  as  her  tired  eyelids  drooped,  and 
she  whispered  softly  to  herself:  "He  is  so  brave,  so 
generous,  so  tender!  " 

Her  last  sigh  faded  into  the  name  her  brother  so  often 
spoke.  It  was  a  gentle  murmur,  lest  even  her  beating 
heart  might  tell  a  maiden's  prisoned  secret. 

With  every  simple  precaution  for  sudden  action,  the 
three  comrades  sought  their  silent  rooms. 

"  God  knows  what  we  can  do,  but  let'  us  do  it  like 
men,"  whispered  Bayard.  "  There  will  be  a  crisis 
to-morrow !  " 

"Why?"  quickly  replied  Manson,  "  the  boat  rides 
easier." 

"  We  have  not  coal  enough  to  run  beyond  noon  to- 
morrow,"  said  Bayard,  his  voice  sinking  into  a  half- 
groan. 

Broken  and  wearied,  Jack  Manson  lay  in  a  deep  sleep 
of  exhaustion,  for  he  had  "turned  on"  at  the  pump 
brakes.  As  he  sprang  up,  -A  friendly  hand  was  shaking  him. 


1 62  FOR    LIFE    AND    I.OVE. 

"Rouse,  old  fellow,  we  are  off  Indianola  Bar!"  It 
was  Leavenworth,  his  voice  thrilling  in  its  earnestness. 
"Come  into  the  main  cabin." 

In  the  gleam  of  early  daylight  Captain  Ludlow  and 
Bayard  were  gazing  through  the  window  and  talking 
eagerly. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,"  gravely  said  the  sailor,  "  we 
have  a  few  minutes.  I'll  conceal  nothing.  There  is 
our  port,  if  we  ever  make  one!  We  have  all  something 
at  stake.  I've  a  wife  and  two  children  in  New  Orleans, 
you  have  your  sisters,  Leavenworth,  and  there's  the 
others,  as  well  as  ourselves."  His  bosom  heaved.  "  I 
have  fought  this  storm.  I  don't  know  how  strong  the 
boat  is  now.  She's  had  a  terrific  strain.  But  the  coal 
is  nearly  out.  I'll  move  her  as  easy  as  I  can,  till  it's  fair 
and  full  light,  then  I  will  get  her  as  trim  as  I  can.  I 
will  wait  till  I  get  all  the  bearings  I  can,  and  I  must 
try  and  run  her  in.  It's  our  last  chance!  She'll  never 
answer  her  helm  with  the  few  rags  of  canvas  we  have. 
You  must  take  your  chances  with  the  ladies  and 
stand  by  them.  There's  nothing  else  to  do.  I'll  give 
you  half  an  hour's  notice.  Come  forward  with  me! " 

Groping  their  way  along,  clinging  to  life-lines,  up  to 
the  pilot-house,  the  four  men  gazed  at  the  long,  low, 
shelving  shore,  with  here  and  there  fringing  wooded 
groves.  To  the  north  it  swept  away  in  a  sandy  curve, 
where  the  flash  of  white  spray  was  just  visible  as  the 
giant  breakers  broke.  Far  to  the  south,  the  thin  line 
melted  in  the  gloomy  gray  of  the  blowing  scud  flying 
athwart  the  bow,  as  the  Gussie  spun  the  parted  waters 
from  her  forefoot.  Scattered  houses  could  be  discerned, 
and  a  slender  steeple  marked  the  place  of  prayer. 

"  That's  what  I  fear,"  said  Ludlow  bitterly,  as  he 
pointed  to  a  seething  mass  of  churned  foam  flying  high 
directly  ahead. 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE.  163 

"  What  is  it  ? "  cried  the  three  landsmen  in  chorus. 

"It's  Indianola  Bar  at  its  very  worst!"  answered 
Ludlow,his  voice  sounding  harsh  and  changed.  "There's 
no  chance  that  a  pilot  could  brave  that  bar  to-day,  no 
sail-boat  could  be  handled  in  that  channel.  I  must  trust 
to  God  and — to  my  poor  memory!" 

"Are  there  no  beacons — nothing?"  cried  Jack  Manson 
in  amazement. 

"  The  rebels  burned  the  light-house  and  destroyed  all 
the  channel  beacon  stands,  in  the  war.  They  sunk 
schooners  there  and  the  new  channel  is  changed.  I  used 
to  know  it  well.  It's  a  forlorn  hope!  Now,  leave  me. 
I've  saved  the  four  life-buoys,  and  I'll  send  them  into 
your  rooms.  There  are  ample  supplies  of  life-preservers. 
When  I  am  ready,  after  we  have  had  some  warm  coffee 
served  to  the  men,  and  I  see  the  ship  trimmed,  I'll 
cast  all  loose  on  deck  for  floating  help,  my  men  will 
man  the  boat  davits,  and  I'll  run  her  in  at  full  speed!" 

"Why  so?"  demanded  the  agitated  men. 

"  If  she  strikes  at  full  speed,  she  may  carry  over  any 
mere  scrape ;  if  she  rises  and  falls  three  or  four  times, 
there'll  be  no  boat  under  us.  That's  all,"  said  the 
sailor,  fixing  his  eyes  on  the  storm-beaten  shore  now 
looming  up.  A  tear  was  moistening  his  cheek.  "  It's  for 
the  women!  Sweethearts  and  wives!"  he  muttered. 

The  longest  hour  of  Jack  Manson 's  life  was  spent 
watching  the  nearing  line  of  breaking  surf,  with  here 
and  there  a  gap  made  by  a  winding  of  the  channel. 
The  houses  were  distinctly  visible  and  at  half  speed  the 
boat  swept  along,  rocking  madly  as  the  wind  caught 
her  wide  guards.  The  three  helpless  women  gazed 
mutely,  as  their  companions  addressed  themselves  to 
preparation. 

The  full  crew,  roused  now,  and  on  the  alert,  took 
their  stations,  and  the  two  burly  officers  approached  the 


164  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

cabin  door.  In  the  pilot  house,  where  four  picked  men 
made  the  wheel  spin  under  Ludlow's  sharp  signals, 
there  was  silence,  and  the  shrill  wailing  of  the  wind 
sounded  a  reply  to  the  shrieks  of  the  soaring  sea  gulls. 
In  the  cabin,  the  stewards  and  quartermasters  were 
warning  the  passengers. 

"Is  it  coming?  "  cried  Katie,  as  she  saw  the  piles  of 
life-preservers  hastily  thrown  out,  while  the  sailors 
were  busied  with  rope  and  boat.  No  one  spoke! 

"  Captain  wants  you,  sir!"  sharply  cried  a  messenger 
to  Bayard. 

He  darted  away.  The  women's  eyes  followed  the 
tall  colonel.  They  could  see  him  grasp  the  captain's 
hands.  In  a  minute  he  sprang  back,  with  the  man 
dragging  four  buoys  with  life-lines. 

The  captain's  bell  clanged  loudly  as  he  signalled  the 
engine  room.  "Full  speed!"  he  cried,  as  he  faced  the 
seething  eddies  of  broken  foam  now  half  a  mile  away. 

The  clank  of  the  machinery  resounded  and  the  boat 
raced  along.  On  either  bow  a  leadsman  stood,  watch- 
ing for  the  captain's  uplifted  hand. 

"  Now,  Ally,  Katie,  don't  be  frightened ;  it's  only 
a  precaution!"  cried  Jimmy  Leavenworth,  as  the  three 
men  threw  off  their  coats  and  shoes!  In  a  moment  the 
cords  of  the  life-buoys  were  attached  to  the  waists  of 
the  women.  A  life-preserver  quickly  adjusted  was  the 
last  preparation,  and  the  three  men  donned  their  own 
cork  jackets. 

A  tongue  of  low  sand-bank  loomed  up  right  on  the 
starboard  bow !  The  breakers  dashed  twenty  feet  high 
on  it.  Quick  shouts  arose  as  the  captain  yelled  to  the 
wheelmen.  The  passengers  poured  out,  clinging  to 
rail  and  rope.  Near  the  half-fainting  women,  the  three 
men,  with  loving  care,  formed  a  cordon  around  them. 
The  boat  rose  and  topped  long  rolling  waves,  sweeping 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  165 

over  the  channel  scourged  by  an  undercurrent.  On 
the  port  bow,  the  sand-spits  opened  their  cruel  jaws! 

"  We're  in  it  now ! "  yelled  the  second  mate,  as  with 
a  mighty  rush  the  reeling  vessel  swept  on  in  a  stagger- 
ing, swerving  course,  driven  by  the  huge  wheels. 

A  chorus  of  cries  rang  out  as  the  boat  quivered  from 
keel  to  mast,  striking  with  a  shock,  throwing  nearly  all 
prone  on  the  decks,  where  a  toppling  roller  swept  from 
stem  to  stern! 

"  Hold  hard  all ! "  yelled  the  captain  in  a  voice  of 
thunder,  as  the  boat  sank  from  the  crest  of  a  giant 
wave. 

Jack  Manson's  spray -blinded  eyes  could  not  see  the 
face  of  that  dear  one  whose  arms  were  around  his  neck 
as  she  cried,  "My  God,  save  me!" 

The  settling,  sinking  swoop  of  the  racing  boat  carried 
her  far  over  the  breaker  line,  left  a  hundred  yards 
astern.  While  Jimmy  Leavenworth  and  Bayard  knelt 
by  Alice,  lying  senseless  on  the  deck,  with  frenzied, 
passionate  embrace  Jack  Manson  held  the  woman  he 
adored  to  his  breast.  He  never  knew  how  pale  the 
lips  were  whose  kisses  sealed  the  love  of  a  life,  as  the 
gentle  girl's  head  rested  like  a  broken  lily  on  his  ardent 
breast. 

"My  own  darling!  Mine!"  he  cried  in  a  happy 
dream ;  for  her  blue  eyes  had  told  the  old,  old  story 
in  the  face  of  Death ! 


BOOK  III. 

ON    THE    BORDER. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  TELEGRAPH'S  MYSTERIES — ON  THE  MAIL  YACHT 

THE  BURNING  BARK  OFF  PADRE  ISLAND — AT 

CORPUS     CHRISTI A    SENATORIAL     MARRIAGE 

MAKES  STRANGE  FRIENDS. 

"  TAKE  the  ship,  Mr.  Bowers,"  cried  Captain  Lud- 
low,  as  he  shut  his  binoculars  and  crawled  down  out  of 
the  pilot-house.  The  sturdy  mate  touched  his  cap,  with 
a  smile  on  his  face.  It  was  plain  sailing  now ;  for  the 
Gussie,  though  torn  and  dismantled,  her  decks  swept 
clean,  was  gliding  up  the  smooth  inlet  toward  the  long 
wharf  at  Indianola.  Far  beyond  them  outside  the  bar, 
the  dashing  spray  shone  silvery  in  the  rays  of  a  sun 
now  breaking  the  gray  clouds  to  the  east. 

As  Ludlow  tottered  to  a  seat  in  the  wave-drenched 
cabin,  he  was  fairly  mobbed  by  the  delighted  pas- 
sengers. They  were  rapidly  abandoning  the  life-pre- 
servers hastily  donned  with  scant  ceremony.  The  joyous 
negro  stewards  were  dragging  out  the  luggage. 

As  Captain  Ludlow  drained  a  stiff  brandy-and-water, 
he  gazed  at  the  shattered  glories  of  the  tawdry  cabin. 

"'  Old  Hutch'  will  have  to  give  the  '  Gussie'  a  little 
shake  of  his  pocket-book.  It's  all  right,"  the  bronzed 
sailor  thought,  as  he  drained  his  glass,  the  faces  of  wife 
and  children  shining  on  him  from  afar.  "  By  Jove, 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  167 

I'll  send  them  a  dispatch  at  once.  Emily  will  worry 
till  she  knows  the  Gussie  is  all  right!" 

The  sailor's  brow  relaxed  as  sweet  Katie  Leaven  - 
worth,  on  Jack  Manson's  arm,  approached. 

"  Oh,  Captain  Ludlow,  you  were  so  grand  crossing 
that  awful  whirlpool!  I  shall  never  forget  you  fighting 
that  storm!" 

"Don't  speak  of  it,  Rosebud,"  the  mariner  said,  as 
he  clasped  both  their  hands.  "  I  have  carried  you 
safely  over  from  baby  times  up  to  the  great  girl 
you  are.  You  brought  us  luck !  " 

"And  someone  else  too,"  silently  finished  the  skipper, 
for  the  light  of  a  love  brightening  in  storm  and  tem- 
pest, flashing  out  even  in  the  face  of  death,  was  shining 
in  the  happy  girl's  eyes.  Jack  Manson,  bewildered 
and  overcome  with  the  words  the  wild  waves  heard, 
showed  in  his  dancing  eyes  a  joy  he  could  not  conceal. 

St.  Cecilia  and  the  sharp-eyed  Bayard,  Mrs.  Wayne 
Barker,  prayer-book  still  in  hand,  and  Jimmy  Leaven- 
worth,  with  radiant  face,  crowded  around  the  hero  of 
the  hour.  An  eager  crowd  waited  to  find  words  for 
their  gratitude. 

The  grassy  banks  narrowed  before  them  as  the  Gussie 
glided  up  to  the  wharf.  It  was  crowded  with  anxious 
watchers,  and  thronged  with  the  wild  riders  of  the 
prairie  land.  Before  them  the  white  cottages  of  Indian- 
ola  nestled  under  the  green  oaks,  a  long  street  parallel 
to  the  shore,  and  a  bridge  spanning  the  lagoon  beyond. 
Clusters  of  horses  and  wagons  crowded  the  beach,  as 
scores  had  gathered  to  watch  the  passage  of  the  bar 
and  the  seething  channel. 

The  tired  engineers  straggled  up,  their  anxious  faces 
relaxed  to  join  in  the  general  ovation. 

"  I  will  meet  you  at  Frenchy's  Hotel  for  breakfast," 
said  the  now  happy  Captain,  for  the  wheels  were  now 


1 68  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

stilled,  and  Jimmy  Leavenworth  \vas  already  the 
centre  of  a  throng  of  stalwart  friends  fairly  mobbing 
him  on  the  wharf.  Broad-brimmed  hats,  Southern- 
frontier  overshirt,  Mexican  riding  trousers,  and  the 
ready  revolver  and  bowie-knife  marked  them  as 
"cattle  men."  Jack  Manson  gazed  at  these  fearless 
riders,  heavy  braided  riding  whip  in  hand,  as  they 
held  the.  lariats  of  their  vicious-looking  steeds.  These 
wild-eyed  samples  of  equine  "cussedness"  were 
playfully  trying  to  kick  the  spikes  out  of  the  wharf 
planks,  or  distribute  their  cumbrous,  ornamented  Mex- 
ican saddles  and  loose  gear  over  the  driveway.  With 
eyes  like  maddened  stags,  limbs  like  deer,  and  a  distinct 
flavor  of  the  unconquerable  mustang,  they  were  living 
pictures,  as  their  riders  pranced  away  with  the*  good 
news  for  anxious  friends.  A  slight  touch  of  the  braided 
horse-hair  reins,  swaying  the  huge  bit  with  its  cruel 
jaw  ring,  controlled  the  frantic  bounds  of  the  chargers 
of  the  plain. 

There  was  general  rejoicing  over  the  escape,  greater, 
a  week  later,  when  the  sinking  of  a  fruit  steamer,  the 
foundering  of  several  sail  vessels,  and  the  loss  of  the 
South  Pass  light  and  its  thirty  occupants  were  known. 

No  merciful  eye  looked  through  the  dark  wrack,  as 
the  iron-piled  cage  was  swept  away  in  the  blackness  of 
night!  The  yells  of  the  drowning  were  blended  with 
the  remorseless  howling  of  the  cyclone! 

As  the  party  rode  to  the  hotel  at  the  head  of  the 
wharf,  Jack  Manson  noted  a  swarthy,  Mexican-looking 
rider  dashing  up  to  the  carriage  in  which  the  heir  of 
San  Miguel  was  riding.  As  he  handed  over  a  bundle 
of  letters,  Jack  saw  a  villainous,  pock-marked  face,  a 
tigerish  mustache,  and  a  countenance  exciting  the  keen- 
est aversion. 

''Who's  that  chap,  Jimmy?"  asked   Manson,  as  his 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  169 

friend  gave  him  several  envelopes  at  the  door  of  the 
little  inn,  where  a  stranded  French  sailor-cook, 
flourished  as  bonif  ace. 

"  Oh,  he's  only  Joaquin  Ximenes,  my  father's  riding 
messenger,"  said  Leaven  worth  carelessly. 

"  He  has  a  bad  face,"  said  Jack,  tearing  open  his 
dispatches,  as  the  messenger  lounged  away. 

"  That  visage  would  hang  him  in  a  strange  land," 
laughed  Jimmy.  "  Where  he  came  from  no  one  knows. 
He  has  a  network  of  chums  from  No  Man's  Land  to 
the  City  of  Mexico,  and  from  New  Orleans  to  El  Paso. 
A  splendid  rider,  the  best  trailer  I  ever  s.aw,  and  a 
deadly  scoundrel.  He  was  Head  Devil  of  a  Mexican 
border  gang  till  a  'pronunciamento' drove  him  over  here. 
He  rides  better  stock  than  I  do;  I  fear  he  steals  them.". 

Jack  Manson  gazed  into  the  glittering,  dancing  black 
eyes  of  the  desperado,  whose  two  ivory-handled  revolv- 
ers flapped  on  his  hips.  They  were  ornamented  with 
carved  spread  eagles  clasping  a  snake. 

"Look's  like  a  half-Indian.  I  suppose  he  stole  the 
pistols  from  some  Mexican  officer's  dead  body,"  mused 
Jack,  reading  his  dispatches.  They  were  two  in  num- 
ber. One  in  cipher  was  from  his  uncle. 

"  I  must  get  the  key  for  that.  It  must  wait  till  the 
baggage  is  ashore,"  thought  Manson,  his  eyes  wander- 
ing to  the  upper  rooms  of  the  little  Hotel  de  Bordeaux, 
whence  he  had  just  caught  a  glimpse  of  as  lovely  a 
laughing  nymph  as  Greuze  or  Watteau  ever  painted. 
It  was  the  precious  Rose  of  Texas  exulting  in  her 
safety.  Her  dainty  foot  had  touched  once  more  the 
soil  which  gave  her  birth! 

"Ah!  this  is  serious,"  muttered  Jack,  as  he  folded 
away  the  second  telegram.  It  read: 

Beware  of  R.  He  has  sworn  revenge  for  New  Orleans.  I 
know  all.  Remember  our  interview. 


170  FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE. 

Though  unsigned,  Jack  saw  the  warning  finger  of 
the  "  Empress  "  in  its  lines. 

"  I'm  tired  of  this  delving  mole  of  a  villain.  I  would 
like  to  have  it  out  with  him ! "  muttered  the  engineer. 

A  brief  letter  from  Si  Leavenworth  welcomed  him 
to  San  Miguel.  Its  closing  sentences  were  pithy : 

Trust  no  one,  speak  to  no  one  on  our  joint  business  except  my 
son  and  Lawyer  Nordenskiold,  whom  he  will  bring  to  you. 
This  is  important. 

At  the  side  of  the  hostelry,  perched  on  a  grassy  bank, 
a  little  rose-trellised  garden  told  of  the  stranded  French- 
man's native  taste.  Jimmy  was  intently  reading  a 
letter,  and  by  his  side  stood  the  erect  form  of  Olaf 
Nordenskiold. 

"  There's  a  man  of  nerve  and  brain,"  thought  Jack, 
gazing  at  the  gray  eye  and  beak-like  nose  of  the 
stranger. 

"  One  of  the  born  Rapacidas,  a  modern  Roman," 
was  Jack's  verdict,  as  he  slipped  through  a  little  gate  and 
gathered  a  few  of  the  prairie  roses.  He  gazed  around 
him  in  delight.  The  winds  were  falling,  and  far  away 
to  the  west  and  south,  the  rich,  emerald  green  of  the 
prairies  broke  through  the  openings  of  the  oak  groves. 

"  This  might  be  God's  own  country,"  thought  Jack, 
the  roses  in  his  hand.  As  he  waited,  the  sweet  woman 
whose  head  lay  on  his  breast  in  the  supreme  moment 
of  the  storm,  stood  beside  him.  In  silence,  her  tender 
eyes  met  his  as  he  offered  the  tribute  of  her  own  land. 

"  Come  with  me,  Jack,"  she  said  shyly,  leading  him 
on  beneath  the  trellised  vines  shading  her  lovely  face. 
"This  is  my  State, your  State.  You  are  to  be  a  true 
Texan,  now,"  Katie  brightly  murmured. 

"  And  you  ?  You  do  love  me !  It  is  no  dream  of  a 
day,  Katie,"  softly  answered  Manson. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  iyi 

"I  do;  and,  Jack,  you  must  make  my  father  and 
mother  love  you  too.  Mother,  I  know,  will  under- 
stand," faltered  the  blushing  girl,  "  but  father  is  a  man 
of  unyielding  will.  If  you  gain  him  as  a  friend,  it  is 
forever.  But  you  must  win  your  way  to  his  stern 
heart." 

"  Shall  we  tell  Alice  and  Jimmy  now?  "  queried  the 
delighted  lover. 

"  Alice  knows  already,"  Miss  Katie  slowly  said  with 
downcast  eyes,  "  and  Jim  is  so  much  in  love  with  Ger- 
tie Marshall  that  he  sees  nothing  else.  You  can  tell 
him  all  on  the  mail  yacht,  for  it  is  a  day  and  a  half  to 
Corpus  Christi,  through  the  beautiful  lagoons  and 
bayous.  We  will  sail  to-morrow.  It  is  delightful. 

"  Now  let  us  go  in.  There  is  old  Alphonse !  "  said 
the  beauty,  as  the  rosy  face  of  the  Frenchman 
beamed  at  the  open  door.  "  Before  you  go  in,  my 
Jack,"  the  girl  cried  merrily,  as  she  pinned  a  rose  on 
his  coat  lapel,  "you  are  a  new  Texan;  my  own  par- 
ticular Texan.  I  wish  you  to  be  proud  of  your  new 
State.  It's  a  gallant  State !  It  was  not  stolen  from 
the  Indians,  conquered,  or  bought  with  yellow  gold  to 
enrich  a  king's  coffers.  Texas  came  into  the  Union 
with  the  bright  star  of  its  own  sovereignty  shining  on 
its  brow.  Its  victorious  sword  was  reddened  with 
the  victor  blood  of  San  Jacinto.  We,  of  all  the 
States,  had-  and  have  forever  the  right  to  secede! 
We  were  annexed  by  our  unconstrained  consent. 
Yes!  It  is  the  most  glorious  blood  of  America; 
the  hero  blood  of  San  Jacinto!  My  father  fought 
there.  He  helped  to  give  this  great  empire  to  the 
Union." 

"A  hero's  daughter!  "  cried  Manson,  as  he  kissed  the 
slender  hand  nestling  in  his  own.  "  It  will  be  hand  in 
hand  always,  Katie,"  said  he,  as  they  walked  out  from 


172  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

beneath  the  roses  which  heard  the  spirited  girl's  low 
reply:  "  I  am  yours,  but  you  belong  to  Texas  no\v!  " 

Brother  Jimmy  was  so  engrossed  in  presenting  the 
new  Mentor  to  Manson  that  he  noted  not  the  fugitive 
blushes  on  the  fair  face  of  the  proud  Texan  girl.  Jack, 
now  bought  for  Texas  with  the  treasure  of  a  matchless 
woman's  love, envied  not  even  the  heroesof  San  Jacinto's 
plain,  where  the  ravens  feasted  on  Santa  Anna's  fierce 
followers. 

An  impromptu  levee  followed  the  .termination  of  that 
never-to-be-forgotten  feast  of  Thanksgiving.  The 
captain  tried  to  blush  behind  the  sea-given  bronze  of 
his  weather-beaten  cheek.  His  name  was  on  every 
lip. 

"  Dudlow,"  said  the  Dane,  "  I  will  see  that  permanent 
beacons  are  ranged  on  the  channel  line  before  a  week  is 
over.  Our  own  vessels  often  run  in  here,"  said  he,  with  a 
meaning  glance  at  young  Leavenworth.  It  was  evi- 
dent that  Manson  knew  nothing  of  the  mystic  private 
flag  of  the  R.  G.  Company. 

Nordenskiold  was  so  engrossed  with  his  schemes 
that  he  overlooked  Manson's  ecstatic  glances  fixed  on 
Katie.  Brother  Jimmy  vaguely  wondered,  while 
Alice  and  that  jubilant  Confederate,  Colonel  Tom 
Bayard,  were  deep  in  the  mysteries  of  a  sub-rosa  con- 
ference. 

Soon  a  coterie  of  excited  relatives  dragged  away 
Mrs.  Wayne  Barker,  who  querulously  thanked  Captain 
Ludlow,  and  piously  vowed  to  keep  thereafter  several 
thousand  acres  of  Texan  prairie  between  her  and  the 
seashore. 

"  I  was  never  a  great  hand  for  ships,  Cap'n," 
remarked  the  old  lady,  as  she  remembered  her  journey 
from  Missouri,  in  an  ox-wagon,  to  the  strange  region 
where  her  stalwart  frontier  husband  obtained  the  broad 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  173 

domain  her  wild  sons  now  chased  their  countless  cattle 
over. 

With  impartially  distributed  embraces  and  handshak- 
ing, the  good  matron  disappeared  in  "the  am'blance," 
as  she  termed  a  covered  spring  road-wagon,  drawn  by 
four  steeds,  only  a  whit  less  fiery  than  the  wild  plain 
horses  still  careering  over  her  unmeasured,  fenceless 
prairies.  In  simple  fortitude,  the  frontier  wife  and 
mother  had  often  laid  herself  down  to  sleep  in  peace, 
surrounded  by  the  yelling  Comanches,  trusting  to  the 
rifles  of  her  sturdy  brood,  but  she  vaguely  distrusted 
all  ships,  sails,  and  steam  gear. 

The  two  sisters  jvere  reigning  as  queens  of  the  local 
gathered  women  visitors,  while  Leavenworth,  Manson, 
and  Nordenskiold  communed  over  their  cigars  on  the 
porch. 

Manson  slipped  away  and  deciphered  his  uncle's 
telegram : 

Trust  only  Leavenworth,  his  son,  and  their  lawyer.  I  will 
take  care  of  Steele.  Remember  your  safety.  Be  prudent. 
Important  movements  on  the  frontier  expected.  Report  often. 
Use  the  cipher  by  wire  freely. 

"  Dear  old  boy !  "  thought  Jack,  as  he  wondered  how 
he  could  explain  to  cool  Mark  Manson  the  unfortunate 
fracas  at  the  Club.  "  I'll  say  nothing  unless  he  finds 
it  out,"  murmured  the  new  Texan,  as  he  indited  and 
dispatched  a  brief  answer.  And,  as  he  turned  to  rejoin 
Jimmy  and  the  crowned  lady  of  his  love,  still  the  dis- 
torted face  of  Ramon  Maxan  rose  between  the  new 
friends. 

"For  life  and  love!  I  will  try  and  be  as  sly  as  a 
Cheyenne  scout  on  his  first  warpath,"  resolved  Man- 
son,  as  he  sat  down  to  talk  gravely  with  the  two  men. 

In    ten   minutes,   Manson    had    his   cues    from    the 


174  FOR  LIFE  AXD  LOVE. 

Dane.  They  were  "  Silence,  Discretion,  Watchful- 
ness," for  an  envious  and  rebellious  few  were  ready  to 
vigorously  contest  the  great  grants  and  valuable  privi- 
lege of  the  paper  railroad  now  carried  in  Si  Leaven- 
worth's  pocket. 

"I  wonder  how  I  shall  like  him,"  mused  Jack,  and, 
as  Katie's  laughing  voice  rippled  out  under  the  rose 
leaves,  Manson  added  with  a  deeper  concern,  "I  won- 
der how  he  will  like  me." 

"  We  will  have  time  to  talk  things  over  on  the  mail 
yacht,  Jack,"  said  Leavenworth.  "  I  will  let  Katie 
drive  you  around  Indianola  a  little,  as  we  leave  at 
daybreak.  Colonel  Bayard  and  Alice  are  going  to  see 
his  sister  at  *  Las  Flores,'  a  few  miles  from  here.  I 
have  written  a  letter  to  father.  I  will  send  Ximenes 
cross  country  with  it  and  ask  them  not  to  come  down 
from  San  Miguel  to  Corpus  Christi  to  meet  us.  The 
girls  have  written.  Nordenskiold  says  that  it  is  not  pru- 
dent for  us  to  appear  to  gather  and  swoop  down  on  the 
railroad  project  as  a  family  affair.  After  you  and  my 
father  agree  on  a  plan  at  San  Miguel,  on  approval  bv 
Senator  Steele  and  your  uncle,  Nordenskiold  will  have 
a  public  meeting  at  Corpus  Christi  and  then  a  legal 
organization  can  be  had.  A  few  figure-head  directors, 
named  to  satisfy  public  sentiment,  can  quietly  resign  in 
your  favor,  and  bring  me  in.  That,  with  my  father's 
vote  and  Steele's  proxy,  with  Chisholm,  will  hold  the 
franchise  and  land-grant  safe. 

"And  you  are,  for  the  present,  only  a  gentleman 
looking  at  your  uncle's  ranch.  Everyone  knows  he  has 
one.  I  will  organize  your  party  and  escort  so  you  will 
be  safe.  I  will  go  with  you  on  your  first  trip.  If  you 
write  a  few  lines  to  father  I'll  send  Joaquin  off.  He 
will  ride  the  eighty  miles  before  sundown  to-morrow. 
The  family  carriages  and  some  of  our  men  will  come  in 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  175 

for  us.  I  wish  you  to  make  a  show  of  dallying  at 
Corpus  Christi  like  an  ordinary  traveller.  Nordenskiold 
will  show  you  the  local  sights  of  interest." 

The  Dane  heartily  assented.  "  I  will  be  responsible 
for  him  while  with  me."  The  crafty  lawyer  made  no 
mention  of  his  trip  to  Washington  or  his  knowledge  of 
Ramon  Maxan's  enmity.  "I  hold  all  sides  in  my 
power  now!"  thought  he,  for  Colonel  Tom  Bayard,  with 
a  grave  brow  had  sketched  to  lawyer  and  client,  the 
inside  history  of  the  New  Orleans  rencontre. 

"  We  will  talk  it  all  over  on  the  mail  yacht,"  said 
Nordenskiold  to  Bayard.  "I  can't  afford  to  lose  either 
of  these  young  men.  We  need  them  in  the  country. 
Manson  seems  a  remarkably  fine  fellow." 

Gallant  Tom  Bayard  echoed  Nordenskiold's  views. 
He  admired  Jack's  manliness,  and  Katie's  strange  and 
sudden  happiness  indicated  to  him  a  nearer  tie  than 
mere  border  comradeship  to  tie  him  to  the  game  New 
Yorker. 

As  Jack  returned  with  his  letter,  Joaquin  Ximenes, 
lightly  poised  on  his  steed,  awaited  the  precious  packet 
of  letters,  the  first  greetings  of  the  three  Leavenworths. 
His  Kentucky  blood-horse  leaned  his  clean-cut  head 
toward  the  fresh  prairies. 

"Where  did  you  get  him,  Joaquin?"  Tom  Bayard 
asked,  with  a  horseman's  approving  nod. 

The  plainsman  turned  his  flickering  eye  toward  the 
veteran.  He  dropped  his  gaze  and  humbly  said: 

"There  was  a  Yankee  lieutenant  killed  off  him  at 
that  fight  at  Howard's  Wells  last  year,  when  the 
Comanches  cleaned  out  the  negro  cavalry.  He's  a 
thoroughbred  horse,  sir,  and  'Antelope  Killer' run  him 
over  to  Mexico  for  sale.  He  can't  stand  an  Injun.  I 
bought  him  at  a  long  price.  They  couldn't  manage 
him  or  the  chief  would  never  have  sold  him.  I  got 


176  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

him  from  the  head  chief  of  the  Kickapoos  over  the 
Bravo." 

As  the  desperado  buttoned  the  letter  safely  in  his 
hunting  shirt,  and  knotted  a  loose  handkerchief  around 
his  neck,  his  roving  eye  rested  on  Jack  Manson  with  a 
cold  malignity  which  made  Tom  Bayard  start.  Jack 
was  looking  into  Katie  Leavenworth's  eyes  as  they 
jointly  admired  the  beautiful  racer,  quivering  in  intensity 
to  stretch  away  toward  the  grassy  meadows  of  far  San 
Miguel. 

"  What  in  thunder  can  that  sneaking  devil  be  con- 
cocting?" mused  Bayard,  as  he  lit  a  cigar  and  strolled 
away.  Still  eying  Jack,  the  rider  seemed  to  measure 
his  every  inch. 

"I  have  it!"  Bayard  suddenly  grasped  the  idea. 
"  That  devil  of  a  Maxan  has  posted  this  scoundrel  to 
spy  and  dog  Jack  Manson.  He  used  to  hang  around 
Hacienda  Maxan  till  that  last  rising  of  old  Cortina  men 
swept  him  over  to  us.  By  Jove!  Little  Mejia  would 
shoot  him  in  a  minute  without  priest  or  drum-head 
court." 

At  Jimmy  Leavenworth's  nod,  Joaquin  loosed  the 
rein,  and  away  bounded  the  graceful  thoroughbred, 
unmindful  of  the  far  Blue  Grass  Country,  and  forget- 
ting, in  the  luxury  of  motion,  the  gallant  boy  who  fell 
wounded  from  his  back,  only  to  die  under  the  scalping- 
knife  of  a  jeering  Comanche. 

'If  you  play  false,  you  devil-masked  fiend,  I'll  bore 
a  hole  through  your  carcass  with  my  Winchester." 

Tom  Bayard  registered  his  vow  in  silence. 

Far  afield  that  afternoon,  under  spreading  cotton- 
wood  and  green  oak,  Katie  Leavenworth,  her  slender 
wrists  as  firm  as  steel  bars,  drove  the  new  Texan  behind 
a  pair  of  half-civilized  ponies.  Their  antics  disturbed 
not  the  happy  lover  who  drank  in  every  accent  falling 
from  the  rosy  lips  of  the  little  autocrat  at  his  side. 


1  OR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  177 

"You  are  to  look  at  Texas  only  through  tny  eyes •, 
sir,"  she  daintily  ordered,  as  she  explained  some  of  the 
salient  peculiarities  of  the  landscape  of  the  fringe  of 
the  frontier.  "  After  our  romantic  sail  over  the  old 
inlets  once  haunted  by  the  Gulf  pirates,  you  will  see 
one  last  outpost  of  civilization  at  Corpus  Christi.  After 
that  you  will  pass  wild  cattle  and  horses,  gray  deer  and 
antelope  by  thousands,  but  not  a  house  until  you  reach 
San  Miguel.  I  shall  laugh  at  your  wonder.  It  is  at 
once  a  camp,  a  plantation,  a  fortress,  and  the  abode  of  a 
patriarch  of  flocks  and  herds.  But  the  breeze,  sweep- 
ing a  thousand  miles  from  the  silvery-peaked  Rockies, 
the  mocking-bird's  song,  the  hush  of  the  silent  prairie 
sea  at  dawn,  the  long  shadows  in  the  moonlight  of  the 
forest  groves  of  San  Miguel,  and — and —  fifty  miles  to 
the  nearest  neighbor,"  laughed  Katie.  "  There's  no 
land  like  Texas,  no  sun  as  bright,  no  skies  as  clear,  no 
glittering  stars  trembling  richer  jewels  of  the  night 
above  the  lonely  rider." 

"  You  are  a  romantic  lovely  Bedouin  sprite,"  Jack 
replied  to  this  flight  of  fancy. 

While  the  tired  ponies  trotted  briskly  backward  in 
the  dusk,  from  a  rising  knoll  the  stilled  waters  of  the 
blue  Gulf  stretched  far  before  them.  The  Storm  King 
had  swept  far  on  in  his  wild  rage  to  scourge  the 
diamond  islands  of  the  Antilles. 

Along  the  shell-strewn  shores,  the  heaving  bosom  of 
the  ocean  pulsed  still  in  dying  throes  upon  the  glitter- 
ing sands.  A  white  sail  here  and  there  flecked  the 
broad  expanse.  The  last  dying  gleam  of  day  faintly 
tinged  the  west.  Far  in  the  east  the  wild  gulls  still 
screamed  before  the  gray  pall  of  night-fog  crawling 
landward,  and  the  saucy  sixty-ton  mail  yacht,  "  Wan- 
derer," swam,  swan-like,  on  the  glassy  waters  of  the 
lagoon. 


178  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"There's  our  beautiful  boat!  We  will  run  down 
seventy  miles  through  that  net-work  of  lovely  islands 
— the  rarest  hiding  places.  Those  boats  sail  like  the 
wind.  Father  has  all  the  mail  contracts  along  the  coast. 
There  are  eight  of  these  boats;  some  run  here,  and 
some  to  the  islands  and  Havana.  They  are  truly  racers! 
Father  had  them  built  especially  for  speed  and  safety, 
and  I  love  to  sail  on  them.  He  owns  them  all — that  is 
the  Company  does,  said  Katie  modestly." 

Again  'that  mysterious  company!  It  appeared  at 
every  turn.  Jack  Manson  forgot  for  a  moment  the 
loving  blue  eyes  at  his  side  to  wonder  how  far  its 
hidden  influence  reached. 

"  That  is  an  extensive  business,  is  it  not?  The  com- 
pany, I  mean,"  said  Manson. 

"  They  have  all  kinds  of  interests  from  El  Paso  to 
San  Antonio,  and  from  Point  Isabel  to  Galveston  by 
land  and  sea,"  proudly  said  the  young  heiress.  "  Father 
is  going  to  put  Brother  Jimmy  in  charge  of  all,  by  and 
by,  and  only  direct  the  ranches  himself.  We  send  ten 
thousand  cattle  to  Kansas  every  year,  and  you  will  see 
a  whole  vaquero  regiment  here,  mounted  on  horses 
with  the  San  Miguel  '  crowfoot '  brand." 

While  the  lady  and  her  lover  drove  down  the  grassy 
slopes,  in  the  gloaming  by  a  rocky  spring,  thirty  miles 
?way,  Joaquin  Ximenes  watched  his  peerless  horse  nip- 
ping the  tender  prairie  grass,  under  the  fifty-foot  radius 
of  the  picket  rope.  A  little  camp-fire  under  a  sheltered 
knoll  lit  up  the  messenger's  face.  Covered  with  a 
matchless  Chihuahua  scrape,  impervious  to  wind  and 
rain,  Joaquin  smoked, in  succession,  uncounted  papelitos. 

A  few  bits  of  toasted  jerked  beef,  cut  from  a  bunch 
of  leathery-looking  strings  behind  his  saddle,  a  draught 
of  aguadiente,  and  a  bed  of  pulled  wisps  of  bunch  grass 
gave  him  supper  and  rest  for  his  limbs. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  179 

"Diablo!  Muerte  de  Dios!"  I  can't  see  what  Ramon 
wants  to  murder  this  green  'Gringo'  for.  It  can't 
be  the  girl !  The  stranger  certainly  hangs  around  her. 
Ramon  has  never  met  her,  if  I  am  right,  and  yet  he 
tells  me  to  watch  him  day  and  night.  But  if  I  can 
make  peace  with  Colonel  Mejia  by  cutting  this  young 
fool's  throat,  it's  easy  bought." 

And  Joaquin  Ximenes  laid  his  head  upon  his  rolled 
saddle  blankets  and  dozed  like  an  animal  resting  after 
a  chase. 

"I'm  to  get  orders  from  Pancho  at  the  Hacienda.  I 
suppose  Ramon  wants  to  lay  this  fool's  death  to  the 
Comanches.  The  old  game." 

The  scoundrel  chuckled  and  slept  under  the  sparkling 
stars  of  the  lonely  night. 

By  the  still  inlet,  with  the  wind-blown  fragrance  of 
roses  blown  through  her  open  casement,  Katie  Leav- 
enworth's  pretty  head  rested  in  happy  peace.  There 
was  a  smile  on  the  fair  woman's  lips.  For,  as  her  tired 
eyelids  closed,  she  murmured,  in  maiden  confession,  "I 
love  him,  I  love  him,  as  he  loves  me." 

Her  fair  cheek  glowed  as  fresh  as  the  roses  sighing 
near  her,  and  trembling  on  their  slender  stems  lest 
fairies  should  steal  their  sister's  secret. 

Jack  Manson's  slumbers  were  haunted  by  the  recur- 
ring question  of  his  life.  "  She  is  wooed,  but  is  she 
won  ?  "  for  the  redoubtable  king  of  the  frontier  was 
now  foremost  in  his  thoughts. 

The  first  twittering  bird  awoke  Colonel  Thomas 
Bayard,  whose  ears  were  more  attuned  to  the  noisy 
picket-firing  at  reveille  than  the  songs  of  the  Texan 
mocking-bird.  No  larks  of  morning  sang  more  gaily 
than  the  happy  girl  children  of  the  land  baron  who  was 
now  anxiously  waiting  at  San  Miguel  for  his  returning 
brood . 


iSo  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Trooping  on  board  with  merry  laughter,  the  San 
Miguel  contingent  bade  a  warm  adieu  to  Captain 
Ludlow.  That  worthy  mariner  gazed  on  the  sapphire 
zone  of  bluest  water,  stretching  toward  the  mouth  of 
the  Mississippi,  a  peerless  Bride  of  Silence.  To-day  the 
soft  murmur  of  the  lazily  rolling  surf  was  not  as  loud 
as  the  song-bird's  chant.  Yet,  high  on  the  sands 
around  them,  lay  great  drifts  of  sea-weed  and  the 
wreckage  of  the  deadly  storm ! 

"  I'm  all  right  now,  I  will  surely  have  an  extra  week 
at  home  while  they  patch  up  the  Gussie.  Look  at  the 
smooth  smiling  devil  to-day!  That  placid  Gulf!  I  could 
paddle  home  now  with  a  shingle.  The  Gulf's  like  a 
capricious  woman,  from  sunshine  to  storm,  with  no 
sign  of  change.  Lady  Bird ! "  he  whispered  to  Katie, 
in  adieu,  "  I  hope  to  take  you  over  on  your  bridal 
trip.  I'll  have  the  cabin  filled  with  roses  for  you!" 

Katie's  only  reply  was  a  brilliant  blush  and  one 
glance  of  her  eyes,  which  grew  strangely  dreamy. 

"Oh,  I  can  keep  a  secret!  A  pretty  girl  can  always 
trust  a  sailor ! "  Ludlow  whispered,  as  the  party  filed 
down  to  the  Wanderer's  snow-white  deck. 

The  rattling  sails  drew  tight  under  a  cloud  of  fleecy 
canvas,  and  the  graceful  yacht  sped  away,  her  lines 
mirrored  in  the  unruffled  lagoon, 

Ludlow  watched  the  last  fluttering  handkerchief  and 
turned  to  the  chief  officer.  The  smoke  was  now  pouring 
forth  from  the  salt-crusted  funnels  of  the  Gussie. 

"All  ready,  Mr.  Bowers?  " 

"Yes!  sir,"  answered  the  mate,  with  his  hand  at  his 
cap  visor. 

"  Take  the  ship  out,  sir,"  ordered  Ludlow,  as  he 
gazed  at  the  fast  receding  yacht.  "  There  goes  the 
sweetest  girl  in  Texas,  and  she's  got  the  fastest  thing 
on  the  ocean  under  her  pretty  feet.  Talk  about  the 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  iSl 

old  '  Wanderer.'  She  wasn't  a  patchin'  to  this  flyer." 
The  stout  sailor  recalled  tales  of  his  youth.  Stories  of 
sixteen-knot  rushes,  as  the  famous  pirate  slave-yacht 
used  to  stagger  under  a  ship's  canvas  from  Havana  to 
Mobile  or  Savannah  with  two  hundred  Congo  negroes 
chained  below,  and  her  rail  buried  in  foam,  came  back 
to  him. 

"  The  old  pride  of  the  Gulf  was  a  terror,  but  this  one 
has  tricked  Uncle  Sam  out  of  gold  enough  to  sink  her. 
I  reckon  some  of  the  old  frigate  captains  opened  their 
eyes  to  see  the  slaver  leave  them,  hull  down,  in  a  day's 
run.  This  chaser  can  dodge  the  swiftest  steamer  the 
United  States  navy  can  boast.  Old  Si  knew  his  business 
when  he  had  these  skimmers  built.  I  really  wonder  if 
the  Custom  House  fellows  do  not  know  that  boat  after 
boat  of  these  innocent  '  mail  yachts '  run  in  here  from 
Havana  untouched  with  a  hundred  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  cigars,  silks,  and  brandy  for  a  home  cargo.  Old 
Leavenworth  must  have  an  awful  nerve  and  a  strong 
friend  at  court.  I  suppose  they  keep  old  Wilson  Dayton 
here  in  free  brandy  and  cigars  to  shut  his  eyes.  That  and 
a  little  poker  money  will  blind  him  as  long  as  he  is  Col- 
lector !  Well,  it's  none  of  my  business,"  ruminated  Lud- 
low.  "  But  I  will  bet  my  life  savings  that  Mr.  Jack 
Manson  learns  more  of  life  on  the  border  in  six  months, 
than  he  would  in  six  years  among  the  painted  Cheyennes. 
Good  luck  to  him.  He  has  a  first  mortgage  on  that 
girl.  I'd  laugh  to  see  the  old  man  when  he  asks  for 
the  daughter." 

Ludlow  chuckled  and  went  below  to  inspect  his 
square-case  bottle,  for  the  Gussie  had  slid  over  the 
bar  as  if  sailing  on  a  mill-pond. 

While  Ludlow  attended  to  his  "  spiritual "  refresh- 
ment, the  fast-receding  Wanderer  turned  in  among  the 
bewitching  islands,  dotted  bayous,  and  inner  lagoons 


182  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

fringing  the  Texan  coast  from  Galveston  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande.  On  the  decks,  lulled  by  the 
ripple  of  the  splashing  waves,  Jack  Manson  was 
"squire  of  dames"  to  the  sisters,  whose  spirits  were 
bounding  in  ecstasy.  At  the  prow,  seated  under  the 
sail's  shadow,  Jimmy  Leavenworth  discussed  with 
Bayard  the  fullest  detail  of  Ramon  Maxan's  madness. 

In  grave  discourse,  the  Danish  lawyer,  alert,  noiseless, 
and  active,  listened  to  the  captain  of  the  Wanderer,  in 
eager  discourse.  There  were  no  other  passengers  for 
Corpus  Christi,  and  the  dainty  yacht  swept  on  alone 
over  the  silent  waters  of  the  Laguna  del  Madre.  The 
crew  were  idling  in  the  cock-pit,  and  with  its  snowy 
racing-sails  set,  the  boat  rushed  on  to  the  far  point  shut- 
ting off  Aransas  Inlet.  The  blue  sea  showed  between 
the  two  outer  keys  off  Aransas  Point,  and  to  the  west 
the  fringing  shores,  a  half-mile  distant,  hid  behind  their 
graceful  trees,  stretches  of  emerald-green  billows  roll- 
ing gently  toward  the  delightful  valley  of  the  Nueces, 
with  its  circular  oak  openings,  the  scene  of  the  theat- 
ric old-time  duels  between  the  wild  Comanches  and 
the  dauntless  Rangers. 

Manson  caught  the  words,  as  the  two  men  paced  up 
and  down:  "Bark  Hesper  " — "valuable  cargo" — 
"  missing  " — "  long  overdue  " — "  company's  flag  "- 
from  the  earnest  captain,  while  the  lawyer's  deeper 
tones  replied.  The  words  "  Aransas  " — "  telegraph  " 
— "  report  for  orders,"  reached  him  as  he  listened  to 
Katie's  stories  of  her  beloved  natal  land  of  future 
empire.  With  smiling  faces,  obsequious  negroes  antic- 
ipated the  slightest  wish  of  the  heiresses.  The  crew 
knew  these  girls  were  princesses  by  right  of  the 
"  almighty  dollar,"  and  their  heritage  of  vast  tracts 
peopled  with  countless  flocks  and  herds. 

From  time  to  time  Manson  saw  Jimmy  Leavenworth 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  183 

and  Bayard  gravely  regarding  him.  He  knew  that 
over  the  sunshine  of  their  hearts  to-day  but  one  black  and 
menacing  shadow  lingered,  the  shade  of  the  brilliant 
and  reckless  Creole.  The  balmy  breeze,  the  sparkling 
waters,  alive  with  leaping  fish,  and  the  weird  old  stories 
of  buccaneer  and  adventurer,  of  slavery  days  and  Indian 
wars,beguiled  him.  For  Katie  Leavenworth  had  caught 
from  veteran  and  world-wanderer  the  stories  told 
around  the  winter  fireside  in  her  Texan  home,  where 
Silas  Leavenworth  sat  dispensing  the  patriarchal  hos- 
pitality of  the  Southwest. 

Road  there  was  none  but  the  open  prairie,  inn  and 
hotel,  save  in  the  towns,  were  yet  unheard  of,  and  either 
in  strong  parties  of  horsemen,  or  teams  of  guarded 
wagons,  the  anxious  wayfarers  were  forced  to  voyage, 
braving  storm,  privation,  the  circling  Indians  yelling  in 
hideous  emulation  to  secure  the  first  scalp,  and  the 
attacks  of  horse  thieves,  Mexican  marauders,  and  the 
fugitive  desperadoes  from  the  Indian  Territory,  or  the 
No  Man's  Land  of  the  three  jutting  territories  of  New 
Mexico,  Texas,  and  Arizona. 

Katie  had  seen  many  a  wandering  stranded  scholar, 
refugee,  world  waif,  government  agent,  mail  carrier, 
and  straggling  soldier  go  forth  from  the  armed  camp 
of  San  Miguel  to  die  at  water-hole,  in  lonely  ravine, 
or  under  the  overpowering  attack  of  numbers.  To 
Jack  Manson  these  early  stories  had  a  weird  interest. 
It  had  been  so  far  off.  It  seemed  now  so  real,  for  the 
rosy  lips  of  the  daughter  of  the  Border  King  were  now 
painting  these  old  days  in  truthful  colors. 

The  breeze  freshened  and  the  beautiful  Wanderer 
leaped  over  the  rippling  waves,  her  glancing  copper 
shining  like  burnished  gold.  The  varied  shore  seemed 
to  glide  by,  an  endless  and  diversified  panorama. 

Already,  a  table  spread  in  the  after  cabin  tempted 


184  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

the  select  voyagers  to  an  inviting  meal.  The  two-days' 
trip  required  the  after  cabin  for  ladies,  while  the  for- 
ward  hold  was  reserved  for  the  men.  Racing  up  to 
Aransas  Head,  the  yacht  sped  away  toward  the  distant 
village  of  Aransas  Pass. 

In  merriest  mood,  Katie  sallied  forth  to  summon  the 
two  Texans,  still  in  conclave,  to  the  repast. 

"See!  "she  cried,  "  Mr.  Manson,  there's  a  steamer 
making  for  Aransas  Pass.  It  may  have  letters  for  us. 
I  warrant  Brother  Jimmy  will  now  be  happy.  He  may 
hear  from  Gertie  at  Aransas,  if  we  stop  for  the  mails." 

"  It  must  be  a  stray  boat,  not  the  regular  steamer," 
said  the  captain  of  the  yacht,  touching  his  cap.  "  She's 
way  off  the  regular  course,  Miss.  But  the  storm  may 
have  driven  her  far  south,"  the  sailor  muttered,  as  he 
went  below  for  his  field-glasses.  - 

In  a  half-hour,  the  noonday  meal  was  finished  in 
jovial  style,  for  the  still  freshening  breeze  gave  the 
nimble  sailors  a  reefing  drill,  and  the  service  of  the 
little  yacht  table  took  frantic  leaps  hither  and  thither. 

Nordenskiold  presided  with  old-fashioned  courtesy. 
He  had  not  yet  forgotten  the  courtly  politeness  of  the 
days  when  he  wore  a  sword 

Many  another  scion  of  good  family,  driven  on  by  the 
storms  of  life,  had  found  a  new  name,  strange  occupa- 
tion, and  a  romantic  career  in  the  shifting  scenes  of 
frontier  life. 

Bayard  and  Brother  Jimmy  were  silent  and  moody. 
Their  long  conference  seemed  to  have  brought  them 
face  to  face  again  with  the  realities  awaiting  them  on 
shore.  For  eye  and  brain,  heart,  hand,  and  foot,  were 
at  the  beck  of  the  strangest  summons,  the  moment  the 
men  would  leave  the  very  outskirts  of  the  two  last 
towns.  Danger  and  intrigue  hovered  in  the  very  air 
blown  from  the  debatable  shores  where  stout  old  Zachary 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  185 

Taylor  opened  the  war  which  gave  to  our  country 
the  treasure-houses  of  the  West.  In  anger  and  ill- 
concealed  aversion,  the  prowling  Mexicans  crouched 
under  the  jeers  of  a  superior  race — filibusters,  slave- 
holders, and  desperate  adventurers. 

"Colonel  Bayard!  Mr.  Leaven  worth!  come  up  on 
deck.  I  fear  this  is  no  steamer,  but  a  ship  on  fire," 
sharply  called  the  captain. 

There  was  a  scramble  for  the  deck.  Every  bound 
of  the  staunch  schooner  brought  the  burning  vessel 
nearer.  Clouds  of  thick,  black  smoke  rolled  skyward, 
and  she  was  driving  straight  on  shore,  with  all  sail 
set. 

"Can  she  make  the  inlet?"  anxiously  queried  the 
lawyer,  with  a  strange  look  in  his  eyes. 

"  I  fear  not,"  answered  the  captain.  "  Hold !  There 
goes  up  a  signal  to  us  for  assistance."  The  sailor  gazed 
intently  for  a  few  moments  and  then  handed  his 
binoculars  to  Nordenskiold. 

"  What  shall  we  do?  Her  flag  is  Union  down  and 
she  flies  the  private  signal  of  the  R.  G.  Company!" 

While  the  lawyer  gazed,  the  driving  vessel,  a  large 
bark,  showed  blacker  volumes  of  smoke  pouring  sky- 
ward. 

"Ah!  the  poor  sailors!  Captain,  can  we  not  save 
them  ? "  cried  Katie  Leavenworth,  with  tears  in  her 
eyes.  The  fair  woman  had  clasped  Jack's  arm  impul- 
sively. 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  do,"  cried  the  captain.  "  I 
have  the  United  States  mails  on  board.  See  here, 
Mr.  Nordenskiold,  you  and  Colonel  Bayard  must 
advise  me.  There  goes  her  signal  for  assistance  and  a 
pilot;  the  people  are  on  board  yet,"  he  shouted,  as  a 
large  ensign,  Union  down,  was  run  into  the  main 
shrouds. 


1 86  FOR    LIFE   AND   LOVE. 

"How  far  out  is  the  vessel  now?"  said  Norden- 
skiold,  as  the  village  of  Aransas  hove  in  sight,  ten 
miles  up  the  inlet. 

"  About  three  miles.  But  I  dare  not  take  the  risk 
of  going  out  without  you  authorize  me.  It  might  for- 
feit the  mail  contract  for  Mr.  Leavenworth,"  the 
captain  said  doubtfully. 

"Don't  wait  a  minute  for  that!  I'll  answer  to  my 
father  for  this.  I  will  not  see  brave  sailors  lose  their 
lives  under  our  very  eyes,"  cried  Jimmy  Leavenworth. 

His  sweet  sister  Alice  softly  added:  "And  our  own 
lives  were  saved  by  a  gallant  sailor  almost  in  sight  of 
these  sufferers.  Let  us  help  them ! " 

It  did  not  need  Katie's  impassioned  appeal  in  second- 
ing her  gentle  sister,  for,  at  a  nod  from  Nordenskiold, 
all  hands  sprung  to  the  sheets. 

The  captain  took  the  tiller,  and  in  five  minutes  the 
dainty  Wanderer  was  dashing  out  through  Aransas 
Pass  toward  the  bark  which  was  driving  straight  on 
shore.  All  eyes  were  glued  on  the  vessel  now  shrouded 
in  smoke;  with  glasses  in  hand  the  lawyer  stood  by 
the  captain,  his  old  nautical  skill  aiding  in  this  crisis. 

"  By  Heavens,  it's  the  '  Hesper,'  one  of  the  Company's 
boats!"  sharply  said  Nordenskiold.  "I  know  her  rig. 
See!  there  the  crew  go  in  their  boats,  towing  astern. 
I  suppose  they  have  lashed  the  tiller  in  hopes  she  will 
drive  in  shore  and  save  the  hull." 

"  It's  a  queer  mano2uvre,  Squire,"  hoarsely  whispered 
the  captain.  "  I  wonder  what  she  has  on  board.  She's 
been  missing  some  time." 

Nordenskiold  shot  a  savage  glare  at  the  skipper  from 
under  his  bushy  gray  eyebrows. 

"  You  are  here  to  save  life,  not  to  fight  for  the 
Marine  Insurance  Companies,"  said  the  lawyer,  with  a 
meaning  gesture  of  silence. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  187 

Eagle-eyed  Tom  Bayard,  who  could  see  an  Indian 
further  than  any  ranger  in  Texas,  shouted  from  an 
excited  group: 

"  They've  cut  the  tow  lines!     The  ship  is  deserted!" 

It  was  true.  In  ten  minutes  the  bark  drove  by, 
near  them,  flames  pouring  from  her  hatchway. 

"What  are  they  signalling  for?"  cried  the  soldier  to 
Nordenskiold,  who  was  sternly  silent,  as  the  captain 
bore  down  toward  the  three  boats,  now  keeping 
together,  waiting  to  be  picked  up. 

"There  may  be  explosives  on  board,"  said  the  cap- 
tain with  a  grin,  as  he  called  out:  "Clear  away  the 
lines  there.  We'll  tow  them  in  to  Aransas." 

The  quick-witted  castaways  had  already  joined  their 
boats  with  strong  lines  as  the  Wanderer  swept  up. 

Motioning  the  mate  to  take  the  tiller,  the  captain 
yelled:  "Stand  by  for  a  line!  All  hands  now!  Look 
sharp!" 

At  his  signal  the  Wanderer  went  about,  two  strong 
lines  were  caught  by  the  inmates  of  the  first  boat,  and 
the  mail  yacht  sped  away,  on  the  other  tack,  to  the 
smoother  waters  of  the  Laguna. 

A  third  of  a  mile  in  advance,  the  doomed  Hesper 
was  rushing  onward  to  the  certain  destruction  of  the 
tossing  breakers. 

The  mail  yacht  raced  after  the  abandoned  vessel  now 
wreathed  in  flame. 

A  hoarse  hail  from  the  leading  boat  warned  them : 
"  Look  out!  not  too  near;  she's  full  of  powder! " 

The  Wanderer  bore  well  away.  The  flames  now 
leaped  up  shroud  and  mast,  and  while  all  gazed  in 
eagerness,  the  bark  heaved  up,  a  bright  flash  of  blue 
and  red  flame  lit  up  the  skies,  and  far  and  near  the  water 
was  covered  with  wreckage.  The  fragments  of  her 
hull  settled  and  sank  as  the  masts  fell  sideways,  drag- 
ging along  the  shallowing  water. 


lS8  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  It's  all  over!  Thank  God!  There's  no  loss  of  life 
at  any  rate,"  cried  the  excited  Jimmy. 

In  an  hour  the  swift  Wanderer  drew  alongside 
the  wharf  at  Aransas,  and  the  three  boats  pulled  in, 
with  twenty  wearied  sailors  on  board.  While  they 
related  the  story  of  their  disaster  to  a  gaping  crowd,  the 
fragments  of  the  ill-fated  Hesper  were  grinding  to 
pieces  on  the  sharp  sand  of  the  lower  key  outside  the 
Laguna.  Apart,  on  the  deck  of  the  Wanderer,  a 
bearded  sailor  conversed  in  low  tones  with  Norden- 
skiold. 

"  We  will  only  wait  here  long  enough  for  the 
mails,"  said  the  lawyer.  "  Take  all  your  men  up  to  the 
hotel  and  treat  them  well.  I  will  send  the  mail  boat 
back  for  you  at  once.  You  had  better  come  down  to 
Corpus  Christi,  then.  I  have  no  doubt  the  Company 
will  send  your  people  to  New  Orleans  and  give  you 
another  vessel." 

Such  was  the  lawyer's  outspoken  disposition  of  the 
rescued.  Jack  Manson  wondered  at  the  roving  com- 
mission of  the  speaker.  The  mysterious  Company 
again.  He  would  have  been  astonished  if  he  had 
known  that  the  Hesper  had  discharged  a  hundred 
thousand  gallons  of  smuggled  brandy  during  her  myste- 
rious absence.  The  Collector  of  Customs  at  Corpus 
Christi,  convinced  easily,  cancelled  the  export  bond,  on 
the  facts,  and  two  dollars  in  gold,  on  each  gallon,  was 
thus  easily  earned  for  the  annual  "secret  fund"  of  the 
octopus  combination. 

"  I  hope  you  saved  all  of  your  papers,  Captain," 
remarked  Xordenskiold. 

"  Every  one,"  briefly  answered  the  mariner,  who 
pointed  to  two  flat  tin  cases,  strapped  and  cork  buoyed. 
"  I  made  them  ready  when  the  fire  gained  on  us.  My 
last  hope  was  to  batten  the  hatches." 


FOR    LIFE    AND    I.OVE.  189 

"  On  second  thoughts  let  the  chief  officer  take  charge 
of  the  men.  You  may  as  well  go  down  to  Corpus 
Christi  with  me.  You'll  get  your  new  ship  the  sooner. 
Were  you  insured  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  captain.  "  They  put  twenty 
thousand  dollars  fresh  on  the  old  Hesper  after  we 
refitted  this  spring.  That  made  eighty  thousand  dollars, 
all  told." 

"  All  right,  then.  You've  made  no  loss  for  the  Com- 
pany. I  know  that  the  cargo  was  insured.  So  come 
along  with  us,  and  bring  your  papers.  Here ;  your  men 
may  want  money.  There's  an  order  on  Lovett,  Fox 
&  Co.  for  what  your  officer  may  need.  Take  this  for 
yourself." 

A  peculiar  smile  played  on  the  lawyer's  face  as  he 
extended  a  hundred-dollar  bill.  "  I'll  give  you  half  an 
hour  on  shore.  Don't  be  late." 

The  mariner  hastened  away  to  bestow  his  men,  and 
Olaf  Nordenskiold  walked  to  the  stern  to  conceal  a 
glow  of  satisfaction. 

"  The  cargo  was  well  insured.  That  was  Chis- 
holm's  smartness.  But  this  scheme  to  destroy  her 
when  empty,  in  the  theatrical  way  it  was  done,  was 
worthy  of  a  modern  dramatist.  I  suppose  Chisholm 
will  claim  a  champagne  supper  for  that.  Of  course, 
the  captain  fired  a  couple  of  bundles  of  oakum,  well 
soaked  in  coal  oil,  himself,  before  he  closed  the  hatches. 
Well,  it's  money  easily  made.  I'm  glad  Chisholm 
plants  the  insurance  on  foreign  companies.  There  will 
he  no  sneaking  investigation.  The  duty  stolen  from 
Uncle  Sam  is  a  righteous  reward  for  smashing  the  late 
Confederacy.  It's  a  good  beginning  for  next  season. 
A  very  neat  turn." 

Olaf  Nordenskiold  rubbed  his  hands  in  glee,  as  he  lit 
an  especially  fine  cigar  and  nodded  good  humoredly, 


10,0  FOR    MFE    AXD    LOArE. 

as  the  Wanderer's  captain  gave  the  order  to  cast  off 
and  make  sail. 

"  Rather  full  of  incident,  this  voyaging  along  Texan 
shores,"  muttered  Jack  Manson,  as  he  sought  a  cosy 
nook  near  Katie.  "  What  will  the  interior  be  if  this  is 
only  the  introduction?"  His  brow  darkened  as  he 
thought  of  Ramon  Maxan. 

"  That's  an  unsuspecting  chap,  young  Manson,"  mused 
the  sly  old  legal  fox.  "Somebody  will  cut  his  throat 
here  in  Texas  and  he  \vont  know  it.  He's  not  smart 
enough  for  Texas.  But  little  Katie  may  open  his  eyes. 
That  sweet  witch  is  bright  enough  to  be  '  queen  of  the 
Texan  Rangers.'  And  yet,"  he  mused,  "gentle  and 
refined.  I  suppose  it  is  her  Northern  education  and  the 
good  family  stock  of  her  mother.  Blood  will  tell!  Old 
Si  Leavenworth  is  rough  as  a  file,  God  knows," 
thought  the  old  lawyer,  who  preferred  his  own  "suaviter 
in  modo  "  to  the  cattle  baron's  "  fortiter  in  re." 

Nordenskiold  indulged  his  last  remaining  human 
passion,  "  good  old  gentlemanly  avarice,"  in  a  smooth 
and  secret  way,  letting  violent  natures  like  old  Si  run 
into  all  the  desperate  environments. 

"  Why  force  ?  Slyness  is  better,"  thought  he,  with  a 
vague  regret  at  the  two  human  lives  sacrificed  to  his 
now  regretted  personal  ebullitions  of  passion.  "  Decid- 
edly, excitement  is  always  wrong,"  he  concluded,  as  he 
paced  the  deck.  "  Not  always,"  he  quickly  added,  as  he 
caught  a  glance  of  Katie  Leaven  worth's  sweet  face 
crimsoning  under  Jack  Manson's  whispered  words.  "  So 
the  breeze  sits  in  that  quarter!  It  will  ruffle  a  little 
under  old  Si's  cyclone  when  he  asks  for  that  child.  I 
would  sooner  face  a  wild  panther  with  a  paper-cutter 
than  brave  the  old  devil's  anger.  A  genial  old  father- 
in-law  to  be ! "  The  man  of  deeds  and  oarchments 
fairly  chuckled  in  controlled  mirth,  - 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  19 1 

But,  as  the  boat  sped  along  the  lagoon,  threading  the 
beautiful  straits  and  wooded  reaches  of  the  island's, 
passing  here  and  there  a  square  redoubt,  relic  of  the  late 
unpleasantness,  built  to  protect  light  blockade  run- 
ners, another  sequestered  couple  enjoyed  the  romantic 
hours. 

Colonel  Thomas  Bayard  (late  C.  S.  A.)  was  earn- 
estly painting  to  sweet  sister  Alice  the  superior  advan- 
tages of  his  rancho  as  a  permanent  residence.  It  was 
a  conversation  which  had  been  interrupted  by  the  ter- 
rific gulf  storm.  Bayard,  who  had  marched  up  un- 
flinchingly to  the  flaming  embraces  of  Battery  Rob- 
binett,  was  now  holding  a  council  of  war  with  St. 
Cecilia,  as  to  the  best  method  of  "  regular  approach  "  to 
capture  the  granite  fortress  of  her  father's  heart. 

"  You  shall  have  everything  you  want  in  the  world, 
my  dear  one ! "  said  the  frank  soldier.  "  I  have  waited 
long  enough  for  you,  too  long,"  the  laconic  veteran 
said  with  a  sigh.  "  Marry  me  before  the  year  closes.  1 
don't  care  for  your  father's  money,  I  have  plenty  of  my 
own." 

"  You  must  gain  my  father's  consent  first,  Tom,"  said 
Alice,  her  eyes  sparkling.  "  Mother  I  am  sure  of 
already." 

"  Can't  you  tell  your  father  that  you  are  tired  of  San 
Miguel,  and  like  my  place  on  the  Nueces  better?" 
simply  remarked  the  colonel.  He  was  dodging  the 
issue ! 

Alice's  ringing  laughter  startled  even  Katie  and  Jack 
Manson.  They  were  soon  wandering  away  in  cloud- 
land  again,  building  castles  in  Spain.  Neither  sus- 
pected the  depth  of  eager  love  in  the  soldier's  naive 
proposals. 

"  I'm  afraid  that  father  would  be  unapproachable  for 
a  week,"  Alice  answered,  smiling  gaily.  "  But,  Tom, 


192  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

you  must  ask  him  in  some  other  way.  You  are  the 
only  man  in  Western  Texas  not  afraid  of  him." 

"  I'll  pay  old  Nordenskiold  a  good  fee  and  get  him 
to  talk  the  Chief  over  to  see  the  thing  in  a  reasonable 
light,"  mused  the  Confederate. 

"  If  you  wish  to  have  me  preside  oVer  that  famous 
rancho,  you  must  ask  for  me  yourself '!  No  substitute, 
sir.  Am  I  not  worth  asking  for?"  said  the  gentle  girl, 
as  she  fled  away  to  the  cabin  for  her  favorite  book. 

Tom  Bayard's  honest  eyes  followed  her. 

"  You  are  worth  every  broad  acre  of  Western 
Texas,"  he  proudly  soliloquized. 

"  I  shall  cost  you  a  good  deal  in  repairs,  extension, 
and  some  comforts  for  that  bachelor  den  of  yours," 
whispered  Alice,  when  she  returned.  His  eager  eyes 
were  a  promise. 

"  I  think  that  you  will  be  successful,"  the  lady  con- 
tinued, "for  with  mother  I  can  always  gain  my  little 
battles,,but  I  wish  you  to  put  father  under  some  new 
obligation  to  you.  Then  he  could  not  refuse."  Alice 
bent  her  dark  eyes  tenderly  on  her  lover. 

"  I'd  lay  down  all  I  have  for  him,  save  my  life," 
began  Bayard. 

"  That  belongs  to  me,  sir,  now  and  always.  I  have  a 
plan.  Be  guided  by  me.  I  will  tell  you  when  to  act." 

Colonel  Bayard  was  fain  to  yield  to  the  quiet  beauty. 
/As  the  sun  sought  the  western  heavens,  by  the  osier- 
shaded  banks,  wild-eyed  cattle  gazed  at  the  gliding 
vision  of  beauty,  for  the  Wanderer  was  a  snowy  cloud 
of  canvas.  Wild  duck  and  plover  whirred  awav,  and 
on  the  little  islands  flocks  of  stately  wild  turkevs  ran  in 
sudden  alarm.  Herds  of  graceful  deer  gazed  fearless'.y 
from  knoll  and  grassy  mound  and  trotted  a  few  steps 
with  tossing  antlers,  as  the  boat  glided  noiselessly  on. 

Manson,  as  the  prospect  varied,  listened   to   Katie's 


FOR    MFE    AND    LOVE. 


193 


legends  and  stories  of  the  early  time.  The  old  mail- 
clad  wanderers  lived  again  under  her  word-pictures. 
The  story  of  De  Soto's  lost  cavalier,  who  wandered 
alone  from  the  Mississippi  in  1541  to  the  Mexican 
silver-buttressed  mountains,  and  joined  the  men  of  Her- 
nando  Cortes  four  years  later,  after  living  (an  object  of 
wonder)  with  the  great  Indians  of  the  Arkansas,  seemed 
almost  incredible. 

"  I've  read  his  book,  found  in  an  old  deserted  Mexi- 
can monastery,"  said  Katie,  who  lisped  Spanish  in  her 
infancy  as  well  as  her  own  tongue.  "  They  thought  he 
was  a  strange  god.  His  armor  and  trappings  mysti- 
fied them.  Those  fiery  old  Spaniards!  Their  memory 
lingers  in  our  herds  of  wild  horses,  bred  from  their 
abandoned  steeds." 

Jack  recalled,  under  this  fairest  of  Scheherazades, 
the  little  fort  built  by  LaSalle  at  Matagorda  Bay  in 
1679 — long  after  Ponce  de  Leon  and  DeSoto  had 
joined  the  innumerable  caravan.  The  bloody  wars 
between  Spain  and  France  for  the  coveted  shores  were 
sketched  as  well  as  the  legendary  story  of  mysterious 
San  Saba  Mission,  far  in  the  interior  where  cowled 
priest  and  fiery  horsemen  fell  under  the  fierce  rush  of 
the  proud  Comanche  horsemen,  undaunted  after  three 
hundred  years  of  battle.  The  wild  coast  warfare,  butch- 
ered settlements  of  even  the  English,  and  the  lawless 
rule  of  the  pirates  of  the  Gulf  were  pictured.  Katie 
proudly  wreathed  with  romance  the  early  days  of  the 
century  which  gave  Texas  its  gallant  "  Lone  Star." 
Mendoza,  daring  Spanish  prototype  of  Aaron  Burr,  a 
self-elected  military  despot,  dying  before  the  muskets 
in  1813,  after  the  slaughter  of  two  thousand  wandering 
Mexicans  and  predatory  Americans,  even  then  water- 
ing the  debatable  soil  with  blood,  was  not  forgotten. 

The  spirited  girl  spoke  of  grim  Lafitte   holding  the 


194  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

coast  by  the  pirate's  sword,  from  1815  to  1821,  with  his 
great  lair  at  Galveston — a  prophetic  suggestion  of  the 
future. 

"There  is  Padre  Island,"  cried  the  glowing  girl. 
"  Even  to-day  its  sands,  after  a  storm,  are  rich  with  the 
wave  cast-up  dollars  and  doubloons  of  treasure  vessels 
secreted  here  by  him,  in  these  secret  bayous." 

"  And  where  does  your  inheritance  of  title  come 
from,  my  princess?"  questioned  Jack  Manson. 

"Ah!  we  real  Texans  succeed  to  all  the  rights  of 
Moses  Austin.  He  crossed  the  Sabine  Boundai-y  in 
1820,  and  bought  a  huge  grant  from  Mexico.  That 
great  Northern  schemer  began  to  fill  Texas  with  useful 
emigrants  to  aid  the  wandering  Americans.  Mexican 
duplicity  in  1830  forbade  the  further  influx  of  our  race. 
Yet,  in  1833,  the  twenty  thousand  anti-Mexican  dwell- 
ers here  decided  to  raise  the  «  Lone  Star,'  and  conquer 
or  die  under  it.  In  1835,  Sam  Houston,  the  greatest 
frontiersman  since  Daniel  Eoone,  a  worthy  peer  of  Kit 
Carson,  drew  his  sword  and  drove  the  Mexican 
invaders  out.  The  world  knows  the  undimmed  heroism 
of  the  Alamo.  As  long  as  the  breeze  waves  the  long 
grass  over  them,  the  names  of  Travis,  Crockett,  Bowie, 
and  Evans,  will  be  deathless.  I  am  proud  that  my 
father  joined  in  that  wild  war-cry  *  Remember  the 
Alamo,'  when  the  Mexican  flag  went  down  forever  at 
San  Jacinto.  What  matchless  men !  Sydney  Johnston 
was  a  simple  soldier,  in  our  ranks;  afterwards  the 
South's  costly  offering  on  the  field  of  Shiloh.  And  the 
deeds  of  our  little  navy!  Splendid  men,  from  under 
every  flag,  joined  the  heroes  on  shore.  Yes,  we  have 
indeed  a  heritage  of  glory.  It  belongs  to  the  whole 
Union,  for  Moses  Austin  was  from  Connecticut,  and 
in  the  great  days  of  the  Mexican  War,  Zachary  Taylor, 
a  Southerner,  marched  to  the  front  of  the  army  which 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


195 


fought  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la  Palma.  You 
shall  see  the  plains  which  he  camped  on,  to-morrow, 
for  on  January  13,  1846,  brave  old  *  Rough  and  Ready' 
moved  out  from  Corpus  Christi  to  plant  our  flag  in 
victory  at  Fort  Brown,  where  it  waves  to-day.  It  has 
its  deathless  romance,  dear  old  Texas,"  said  Katie,  as 
her  dreaming  eyes  met  her  lover's.  "  Every  lonely 
grave  of  our  early  settlers  should  be  an  altar  for  their 
children's  children.  There  should  be  nothing  mean  or 
base  in  the  heirs  of  such  dauntless  pioneers." 

The  sun  sank  far  beyond  the  hills,  and  under  the 
soft  starlight  the  lovers,  hand  in  hand,  dreamed  of  a 
future  brighter  than  the  sunset  skies  of  even.  Morn- 
ing's fresh  breezes  came  with  the  golden  sun  leaping 
up  from  the  blue  sea  outside  the  bar.  The  day-god 
climbed  toward  the  zenith,  as  Katie  pointed  to  a  distant 
town  crowning  rolling  bluffs  and  backed  with  the  swell 
of  the  unmeasured  prairie. 

"  There,  far  beyond  the  eye's  reach,  fifty  miles 
away,  lies  San  Miguel.  You  are  going  to  my  home — 
to  the  green  prairie  land  where  freedom  breathes  in 
every  waft  of  the  far  winds  from  the  Rockies." 

"What  fate  lies  before  me  here? "  mused  Jack  Man- 
son.  His  nerves  tingled,  his  heart  beat  high,  for  a 
gentle  hand  lay  softly  nestling  in  his  own — the  hand  of 
the  lovely  woman  who  would  be  the  prairie  star  of  the 
newer  day. 

A  convocation  of  polyglot  characters  welcomed  Ncr- 
denskiold  at  the  landing,  as  the  Wanderer's  sails  flut- 
tered down.  That  handsome  young  Texan,  Mr.  James 
Leavenworth,  was  hailed  by  a  circle  of  sternly  chival- 
ric-looking  country  leaders,  and,  with  characteristic 
Southern  courtesy,  the  ladies  reached  their  carriage 
through  a  lane  of  lifted  head-gear.  At  the  door  of 
the  St.  James,  the  lawyer  tore  open  several  dispatches. 


196  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"See  here,  Manson!  Wonders  will  never  cease. 
Read  that.  Do  you  know  the  lady  ? "  It  was  signed 
"  Ezra  Steele,"  and  said : 

Married  to-day  to  Mrs.  Mildred  Smiley.  Shall  pay  Chisholm 
a  visit  in  New  Orleans.  Can  you  meet  me  there  in  two  weeks? 
Would  like  to  confer  before  Congress  meets. 

Jack  Manson  stifled  an  exclamation  of  surprise.  "  She 
is  a  charming  woman;  one  of  the  loveliest  I  ever  met." 
He  handed  the  dispatch  to  Colonel  Bayard,  whose 
soldierly  face  grew  stern. 

"Poor  Bob  Kenyon!"  he  muttered,  "It  seals  his 
forgotten  tomb,  and  closes  his  sad  story!"  He  passed 
it  back  without  further  comment. 

Jimmy  Leavenworth's  eyes  opened  widely  as  he  read 
the  lines.  "  She  will  be  a  great  aid  to  Steele  in  his 
public  career,"  said  the  Texan. 

"  Yes,  and  a  tower  of  strength  to  our  Company," 
mused  Nordenskiold  quietly.  "  Now,  what  is  his 
game  ? "  he  silently  reflected,  for  he  knew  not  that  Steele 
had  been  deftly  snared  by  the  ambitious  woman  who 
stood  under  the  Stars  and  Bars  at  Atlanta  as  Major  Bob 
Kenyon's  peerless  girl  wife. 

After  reading  a  few  more  words,  the  lawyer  drew 
Jack  Manson  aside.  "  I  know  Miss  Katie's  impatience. 
There  are  four  wild  demons  being  harnessed  that  will 
take  them  up  to  San  Miguel  in  five  hours  without  a 
break.  I  must  see  Leavenworth  about  this  wreck. 
It's  a  serious  loss,"  he  sighed.  "  It  demands  instant 
action.  He  will  wish  his  children  gathered  quietly 
around  him  for  a  few  days.  Now,  do  you  make  your 
temporary  adieux  to  the  young  ladies.  I  will  put  you 
in  the  hands  of  chosen  men  here  who  will  'naturalize' 
you  in  a  few  days.  You  can  trust  them  with  your  life. 
But,  silence  as  to  your  own  business  and  my  intended 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  197 

organization  here  to  secure  the  benefits  of  the  franchise 
to  our  inner  circle.  Say  not  a  word  as  to  your  affairs 
or  past  history."  He  finished  with  a  smile:  "  It's  a 
way  we  have  in  Texas." 

The  angel  of  silence  guards  yet  the  passionate  good- 
bye of  Jack  Manson  to  the  beauty  whose  bright  eyes 
gleamed  through  tears  as  she  whispered :  "  Good-bye ! 
my  heart  is  yours.  My  home  lies  there.  My  heart  is 
with  you  here.  When  you  meet  me,  remember  that 
our  future  is  in  your  hands."  There  was  a  mist  in 
Jack's  eyes  as  the  wild  racers  stretched  their  lean  heads 
to  the  smooth  prairie  paths.  Katie,  his  beloved,  was 
gone! 


CHAPTER   IX. 

A    NIGHT     AT      "JOE      GARCIA's  " "OUR     FIRST    CITI- 
ZENS*'— OLD    MARK'S  .LETTERS — MRS.  SENATOR 

STEELE MAXAN       IN       AMBUSH A       FRONTIER 

KING. 

"  So  THIS  is  to  be  my  future  headquarters!"  mused 
Jack  Manson,  as  he  gloomily  watched  Jimmy  Leaven- 
worth  dashing  away  with  his  wild  escort  toward  San 
Miguel.  "I'll  send  you  in  a  couple  of  good  men  as 
escort,  and  a  driver.  Nordenskiold  comes  out  to-mor- 
row. You  can  trust  every  man  he  makes  known  to 
you,  just  as  he  tickets  them.  Sly  old  fox!"  were  the 
Texan  prince's  last  words. 

Pacing  the  long  porch  of  the  St.  James  Hotel,  Jack 
gazed  on  the  splendid  Laguna,  with  Padre  Island's 
sand-dunes  swept  gulfward  by  the  silver  surf.  The 
blue  waters  of  the  Laguna  teeming  with  turtle,  sea 
trout,  mullet,  pompono,  oysters,  and  rare  fish  worthy 
of  a  modern  Vitellius,  was  unflecked  by  a  sail.  Far  to 


198  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

the  south,  a  bluff  a  hundred  feet  high  indicated  the 
depth  of  the  virgin  prairie  soil,  with  a  lean  strip  of  sand- 
beach  at  its  foot.  The  plateau  of  the  lonely  beach 
widened  where  Corpus  Christi  nestled  half  below  the 
bluff.  Its  "  upper  ten "  dwelt  on  the  splendid  head- 
lands, whence  a  grassy  prairie,  smooth  as  a  tennis-court, 
stretched  hundreds  of  miles  to  the  Xueces,  Pecos,  and 
San  Antonio  rivers.  Out  in  the  far  southwest,  the 
prairie  joined  the  arid  sands,  cactus  groves,  gray  hills, 
and  bare  knolls  of  the  great "  arid  zone."  It  is  a  natural 
boundary  from  the  mouth  of  the  winding  Rio  Grande 
del  Norte  ("El  Rio  Bravo")  across  two  great  States 
and  twin  Territories  from  Point  Isabel,  Texas,  to  San 
Diego,  California.  Not  a  lonely  mile  of  this  horrid, 
burning  desert  silence  which  has  not  had  its  unwritten 
tragedy  since  the  "  Conquistadores "  first  crossed  it! 
The  unceasing  war  of  the  Apaches  devastates  the  west- 
ern half,  the  operations  of  thief,  renegade,  raider,  and 
wandering  criminal  make  the  eastern  strip  a  land  where 
blood  flows  freer  than  water.  The  considerable  town, 
well  built,  in  Southwest  frontier  style,  seemed  handi- 
capped only  by  the  shallow  water  of  the  inlet. 

"  Some  day,"  mused  Jack,  pocket-map  in  hand, 
"great  ocean  steamers  will  discharge  foreign  cargoes 
here.  The  channel  must  be  deepened." 

While  Nordenskiold  left  Manson  to  the  hospitalities 
of  the  host  of  the  St.  James,  he  called  a  secret  meeting 
of  his  "  notables"  at  the  great  local  "  tienda  de  Joe 
Garcia,"  the  substitute  for  a  club-house. 

As  Jack  reflected  that  General  Zachary  Taylor  had 
chosen  this  as  the  base  of  his  Mexican  operations,  he 
noted  the  situation  of  the  town  like  the  hub  of  a  wheel. 
A  radius  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles  swept  from 
Point  Isabel  to  Fort  Brown,  Ringgold  Barracks,  Fort 
Mclntosh,  Fort  Duncan,  San  Antonio,  and  near  to 
Austin  and  Galveston. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  199 

"  With  a  virgin  soil,  immense  cattle  herds,  countless 
bands  of  sheep,  undeveloped  iron  and  coal,  and  the 
water  of  the  rivers,"  Manson  murmured,  "  here  should 
be  great  settlements,  thousands  of  farmers,  and  thriving 
trade.  Through  this  circle,  the  friendly  advance  on 
Mexico  must  be  made.  Will  my  paper  railroad  ever 
cross  these  rich  plains?" 

Gazing  up  and  down  the  few  streets,  Manson  noted 
the  lethargy  of  the  easy-going  nomadic  Western  Texans. 
The  only  sounds  in  the  blazing  sun  were  the  click  of 
billiard  balls,  or  the  shouts  of  idlers  in  the  drinking 
"  saloons."  Along  the  sandy  unpaved  streets,  knots  of 
wild-looking  steeds  were  tied  before  the  flimsy  "  stores"  ! 
The  usual  "plaza"  was  the  market  place.  It  had  served 
as  the  convenient  theatre  of  many  impromptu  duels. 
Huge  storehouses  and  "  corrals  "  contained  mountains 
of  hides  and  pelts;  pens  filled  with  wild  horses  and 
cattle,  and  by  bands  of  sheep,  represented  the  only 
exchange  medium  of  value — animals  alive,  or  their 
proceeds  when  dead. 

Jack  Manson  gazed  on  the  motley  passing  crowd. 
They  were  Southern  borderers,  Mexicans,  stray  negroes, 
half-bred  Indians,  stranded  sailors,  Italian  "dagos,"  and 
a  few  suspicious,  broken-down-looking  Americans  of 
the  baser  sort! 

He  ventured  to  express  some  surprise  to  his  com- 
panion at  this  singular  panorama. 

"  It's  a  d — d  poor  country  to  come  to,  this  yere  Rio 
Grande,"  said  the  hotel-keeper,  cutting  a  lump  of  plug 
tobacco  with  a  bowie-knife  deftly  produced.  "  An'  a 
mighty  -sensible  man  what  gets  out  of  hyar,  while  he 
kin  pay  for  a  ticket  to  New  Orleans,  an'  before  he  gets 
his  throat  cut.  Come,  let's  have  a  drink." 

Jack  followed  his  host.  The  drink  was  a  brevet  of 
social  recognition.  The  tawdry  pictures  of  Lee  and 


2OO  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


Jackson  over  the  long  bar  were  out  of  place  hanging 
over  the  fly-infested,  poison-filled  bottles.  A  stuffed 
jaguar  and  a  dilapidated-looking  gray  wolf  ornamented 
the  rear  of  the  bar  under  a  pithy  notice: 


GENTLEMEN    WILL     PLEASE      DEPOSIT 
THEIR    WEAPONS     WITH    THE     CLERK. 


"  This  country  does  not  seem  to  please  you,"  said 
Manson,  as  he  broke  the  ice  of  local  custom  with  his 
first  drink. 

"  The  people  hyar,  suh,  are  a  mixed  lot  of  loafers  an' 
man-killers.  I  wisht  I  was  well  out  of  the  hole.  Thar's 
some  rich  cattle  men  in  back.  They've  gobbled  up 
the  whole  country  like  old  Leavenworth.  But  the 
average  lot  are  lazy  cusses.  I  wish  the  war  had  swept 
'em  all  off.  They  was  too  big  cowards  to  fight,  an' 
got  rich  on  swappin'  cotton  over  the  Rio  Grande." 

"Would  not  a  railroad  help  you  here?"  cautiously 
said  Manson. 

"  Yas,"  replied  the  disgusted  boniface.  "  Ef  old  Grant 
would  only  grab  the  three  border  States  of  Mexico 
an'  turn  all  these  wanderin'  Confederit'  veterans  in  to 
whippin'  the  '  Greasers,'  it  would  start  us  up." 

"  What  are  '  Greasers'?  "  innocently  queried  Jack. 

"Oh!  Mexicans!  That's  what  we  call  'em. 
They're  like  Injins — only  good  to  kill!  Now,  ef  this 
yere  Rio  Grande  Company,"  the  host  began,  as  he 
motioned  for  a  duplication  of  the  fiery  cocktails — Jack's 
eager  attention  was  here  cut  short  by  a  warning  glance 
from  Nordenskiold,  who  filed  in  at  the  head  of  a  crowd 
of  friends.  They  were,  indeed,  a  strange  assembly ! 

"  Our  leading  citizens,"  Nordenskiold  whispered,  as 
he  drew  Jack  away  from  the  loquacious  landlord. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  2OI 

«  Don't  speak  of  the  Company  to  a  living  soul,"  he 
muttered.  "  That  landlord  is  dangerous.  He  trains 
with  the  opposition  crowd."  Manson  was  puzzled. 
He  advanced  to  meet  the  "leading  citizens  "in  a  strange 
frame  of  mind.  Did  the  too  communicative  host  run  a 
mysterious  "  company  "  of  his  own  ?  Was  he  a  special- 
ist in  occult  operations  from  smuggling  to  fancy  throat- 
cutting  ?  Queer  people — these  "  leading  citizens" ! 
He  saw  before  him  in  the  almost  shabby  daily  undress 
of  the  ambitionless  Southron  several  middle-aged  men. 

Xordenskiold  said  gravely:  "Gentlemen,  I  hope  to 
meet  you  all  this  evening  at  a  little  supper  at  'Joe  Gar- 
cia's.'  I  wish  you  to  know  Mr.  Jack  Manson,  my 
friend.  He  has  been  on  the  plains  in  Dakota.  Now, 
I  have  to  go  and  look  after  my  shipwrecked  sailors.  I 
have  a  telegram  telling  me  they  will  be  in  before  night. 
Colonel  Hodges,  you  will  kindly  take  charge  of  our 
young  friend." 

Jack  grasped  the  offered  hand  of  the  new  cicerone. 
He  was  a  stunted,  grizzled  man  of  fifty-five.  His  head 
was  fastened  forward  by  a  seeming  injury,  but  two 
coal-black  eyes  blazed  over  his  grizzled  beard,  and  his 
step  was  as  light  as  the  velvet-footed  panther.  Every 
one  knew  cut-faced  Hodges — a  cattle  rwillionaire,  a 
veteran  of  the  Mexican  War,  a  ranger,  and  the  father 
of  some  desperate  children,  born  of  a  Spanish  mother 
whose  dower  in  lands  was  that  of  a  duchess!  All 
Texans  hailed  him  as  the  hero  of  countless  encounters, 
and  his  historic  wound  was  a  slashing  machete  cut, 
severing  the  neck  muscles.  Yet,  simple  and  quiet  in 
manner  as  a  school-boy,  two  bull-dog  pistols  were 
always  carried  in  the  pocket  of  his  loose  sack-coat. 
From  El  Paso  to  the  sea,  his  quickness  in  planting 
their  deadly  balls  into  the  falling  antagonist  was 
known. 


2O2  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

He  said  simply:  "Glad  to  know  you,  Gentlemen. 
Let's  have  something." 

Jack  soon  knew  Judge  Ketcham,  hulking,  vulgar, 
greasy,  shabbily-genteel,  with  a  Bardolphian  nose. 

"  Our  Federal  District  Judge,  sir."  So  he  was,  and 
a  better  judge  of  whisky  than  law.  "I'm  told  that  you 
know  my  friend  Senator  Ezra  Steele,"  he  lazily 
remarked,  for  he  too  was  a  "  carpet-bagger,"  floated 
up  in  the  time  of  the  disqualification  of  the  competent 
rebel  jurists.  Manson  gazed  and  briefly  acknowledged 
the  honor. 

"  Queer  running  mate  for  Steele.  Three  grades 
lower  in  vulgarity,"  he  thought.  "  Probably  a  port- 
able human  whisky-tank.  Yet,  he  sways  here  the  bal- 
ances of  Justice,  blind  indeed,  in  these  days  of  the 
unsettled  war  upheaval,"  Jack  decided. 

"  My  friend,  Colonel  '  Rip '  Ford,  said  Hodges 
warmly.  Jack's  eye  brightened.  Here  was  a  real  man; 
tall,  fair,  silver-haired,  he  bore  his  sixty  years  with  a 
slight  stoop.  An  honest  blue  eye,  a  kindly  smile  and 
a  simple,  frank,  soldierly  manner  were  a  passport  to 
respect  and  confidence. 

"I'm  right  glad  to  know  you,"  said  the  old  veteran. 
He  extended  a  crippled  right  hand,  and  Jack  Manson, 
gazing  in  his  honest  eyes,  knew  he  had  met  the  typical 
Texan.  He  could  still  ride  eighty  miles  a  day,  sleep 
under  the  stars,  and  face  death  as  calmly  as  when  he 
followed  Sam  Houston  as  a  boy  at  the  Texan  field  of 
honor,  San  Jacinto.  As  a  Ranger,  he  had  chased  the 
wild  Comanches  through  the  glades  of  the  Nueces  and 
Pecos.  The  whole  frontier  knew  of  how  Captain  Ford 
twisted  round  when  his  right  hand  was  nailed  to  his 
saddle  by  a  Comanche  lance,  and  slew  Gray  Eagle,  a 
giant  chief,  with  his  Texas  Colt  revolver  held  in  the 
left  hand,  as  their  mad  steeds  raced  side  by  side.  Major 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  203 

Ford  had  followed  General  Taylor  to  Buena  Vista  to 
see  his  old  foe  Santa  Anna,  the  greatest'  of  Mexican 
generals,  flee  before  the  Stars  and  Stripes!  And,  sim- 
ple minded,  when  Texas  "went  out,"  Colonel  Ford,  C. 
S.  A.,  followed  the  waning  Stars  and  Bars  and  rode  in 
the  last  fight  of  the  war,  on  Palo  Alto's  sacred  field, 
where,  strange  to  say,  the  last  battle  of  the  war,  fought 
after  Lee's  surrender,  was  a  final  gleam  of  victory 
before  the  night  of  defeat  blotted  out  the  Southern 
Cross  for  ever.  Simple,  frank,  abstemious,  generous, 
a  devout  Christian,  only  gently  partaking  of  the  habits 
of  "old-time  gentry,"  dear  old  "Rip"  Ford's  word 
was  his  bond  and  his  heart  was  true  to  the  great  grow- 
ing State  he  had  fought  for  in  its  dark  hours — its  throes 
of  crystallization  into  the  gallant  "Lone  Star." 

"I  suppose  you  surely  know  Mr.  Leaven  worth?" 
hazarded  Jack,  as  his  heart  warmed  to  the  quaint  old 
Ranger. 

"  We've  rid  thousands  of  miles  together  an'  fought 
the  Comanches  an'  Mexicans,  side  by  side,  fifty  times! 
Many's  the  time  one  blanket  has  covered  us  two  in  a 
freezing  'norther,'  when  the  mustang  horses  whim- 
pered from  cold.  I'm  at  home  at  San  Miguel — that 
is,  when  I!m  not  ridin'  the  perara,"  he  concluded. 

Major  von  Blucher  and  old  Henry  Miller  were  the 
next  notables.  The  major,  a  bullet-headed,  square- 
jawed  old  Prussian,  with  gleaming  spectacles,  was  the 
pride  of  the  frontier.  A  self-exiled  German  noble,  he 
spoke  all  languages.  Short  and  sturdy,  a  grim  philos- 
opher, he  dropped  the  student's  cap  at  the  University  of 
Berlin  to  plunge  into  a  wild  Texan  career.  Surveyor, 
engineer,  lawyer,  translator,  scientist,  and  adviser,  his 
trenchant  tongue  was  a  flail  to  the  unlearned.  In  his 
quaint  bungalow,  at  the  head  of  the  canon,  a  gentle 
German  lady  presided  over  his  home.  Her  graceful 


204  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

daughter  portrayed  the  mother's  refinement,  his  two 
stalwart  boys  were  Texan  copies  of  the  sturdy  von 
Blucher.  Instruments,  books,  classic  works,  curious 
specimens,  and  uncanny  gear  lumbered  up  his  house. 
He  mingled  all  languages,  from  the  fragments  of 
Horace,  never  altogether  forgotten,  with  the  dialects  of 
Kickapoo,  Seminole,  and  Comanche.  Fearless,  sturdy, 
and  fate-defying,  he  smoked,  drank,  philosophized,  and 
fraternized  with  every  border  passer-by  from  Caballo 
Blanco,  the  great  Mexican  bandit,  to  the  round-faced 
Catholic  priest  at  the  little  town,  with  whom  he  fought, 
over  the  dinner  table,  the  battles  of  orthodoxy  and  of 
agnosticism. 

At  this  moment,  the  old  Prussian  was  watching  his 
favorite  drink  being  compounded  under  the  eyes  of 
jovial  Henry  Miller,  who,  in  feudal  times,  would  have 
been  the  rosy  cellar-master  of  some  jolly  set  of  monas- 
tery roisterers.  At  Brownsville,  in  face  of  Matamoras, 
by  the  rushing  river,  across  which  the  shells  from  Fort 
Brown  silenced  the  Mexican  guns,  Henry  Miller  was 
the  landlord  par  excellence.  Poor  and  rich  had  of  his 
best.  The  "  stranger  within  his  gates  "  was  even  cared 
for  like  a  brother,  and  easy-going  old  Henry  calmly 
nursed  friend  and  stranger,  in  the  awful  days  of  yellow 
fever  scourges,  with  a  heroism  worthy  of  placing  a  halo 
around  his  kindly  old  face.  Dear  old  Henry  sleeps 
to-day  by  the  murmuring  river  he  loved,  but  his  mem- 
ory is  green! 

Mr.  Beriah  Mott,  the  ferret-eyed  banker  who  plotted 
around  Milly  Smiley's  table,  was  also  added  to  Jack  Man- 
son's  gallery  of  friends,  his  partner  Bainbridge,  and  the 
Collector  of  Customs,  a  faded  and  inert  politician  who 
lived  only  by  official  blackmail,  skillful  poker,  much 
internal  suction,  and  sported  a  snappy-looking,  over- 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  205 

dressed, black-eyed  "wife,"  vaguely  suspected  of  belong- 
ing to  some  other  forgotten  Menelaus. 

"  If  I  am  not  to  be  a  three-bottle  man,  I  must  try  some 
strategy,"  finally  Tack  decided,  as  the  grave  ceremonies 
ended. 

"  I  hope  to  meet  you  this  evening,"  said  Jack  to  the 
gentlemen.  "  I  think  I  will  take  a  little  drive." 

"  Let .  me  show  you  around,"  said  Hodges,  and  to 
Jack's  relief  a  pair  of  bounding  half-tamed  horses  soon 
whirled  him  away  to  where,  from  the  tops  of  the  rolling 
green  prairie  swells,  he  could  follow,  by  Hodges'  whip- 
stock,  the  air  line  of  fifty  miles  dividing  him  from  the 
blue-eyed  woman  he  loved. 

Deft  questioning  brought  out  a  fund  of  anecdote  as 
to  Si  Leavenworth's  romantic  life.  Manson  groaned 
inwardly  as  he  thought  of  the  redoubtable  old  "  Giant 
Despair "  he  must  face  before  Katie  Leavenworth's 
slender  hand  would  wear  his  wedding  ring.  The  state 
of  the  border  was  painted  briefly  by  the  old  ranchero. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Colonel  Hodges,  as  the  foaming 
steeds  trotted  back  exhausted,  for  his  thin  wrists  were 
firm  as  steel  bars,  "  it's  a  queer  country,  this  Western 
Texas.  You  see,  many  men  come  here  with  new- 
fangled notions  about  Northern  ideas  and  a  whole  lot  of 
nonsense.  If  a  man  comes  in  with  us,  and  lets  politics 
alone,  and  makes  himself  neighborly,  he  can  do  well 
here,  if  he's  civil  and  a  leetle  careful."  His  voice  took  a 
fatherly  and  prudential  tone:  "No,  our  people  won't 
stand  any  meddling." 

"And  if  he  should  meddle?"  said  Jack  good- 
humoredly. 

"  Then  most  likely  he'd  get  shot  right  off  by  some- 
body," said  Colonel  Hodges  very  simply,  as  if  effective 
shooting  was  a  sort  of  natural  "  clearing-house  "  pro, 
cess  for  the  removal  of  human  busy-bodies. 


2O6  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  Don't  they  ever  hang  anyone  down  here  ? "  said 
Jack,  quite  amazed,  as  they  drew  up  before  Joe  Garcia's, 
for  the  supper  hour  was  nigh. 

"Oh,  yes.  The  'Regulators'  hang  a  good  many 
fellows  prowling  around  the  cattle  ranches,  and  there's 
been  a  good  many  '  niggers '  hung,  but  it's  too  much 
trouble  for  our  young  fellows.  They  mostly  shoot 
them !  There  were  some  few  Northern  men  hung  here 
about  war  time.  I'm  sorry  to  say  they  were  mixed  up 
in  politics." 

Plain  old  Colonel  Hodges'  voice  sank  in  a  pensive 
regret.  It  was  with  a  vain  effort  to  prevent  a  smile, 
that  Manson  said  seriously,  as  he  dismounted:  "I 
meant  regular  trial  and  hanging  by  law.  Legal  execu- 
tions, you  know.  Criminals." 

Colonel  Hodges  looked  in  wonder  at  Jack,  who 
actually  burst  into  laughter,  as  he  said: 

"  Certainly  not!  Those  fellows  mostly  light  out  for 
Mexico  if  they  raise  a  rumpus.  Nobody  bothers  with 
them.  It  costs  too  much.  Somebody  fills  them  full  of 
lead  if  they  are  fools  enough  to  hang  around  after  hoss- 
stealing  or  killin'  a  good  man." 

The  word  "  Mexico  "  recalled  Maxan. 

"  Do  you  know  a  rich  young  fellow  over  there- — 
Ramon  Maxan?  "  said  Jack,  as  Colonel  Hodges  finished 
tying  his  horses. 

The  old  man  wheeled  with  a  sharp  glance  of  aston- 
ishment. He  said  slowly:  "  He's  the  biggest  liar  and 
sneak  among  those  fine  gentry  of  the  Zona  Libre.  He's 
got  a  poor  girl,  Panchita  Lopez,  walled  up  there  in  his 
hacienda.  He  run  her  off  from  the  convent  up  at 
Laredo.  Poor  Panchita!  If  I  was  ten  years  younger, 
I'd  take  a  gang  of  the  boys  and  run  over  there  and 
hang  him  in  his  own  '  paseo '  and  burn  the  robber  nest. 
He's  not  so  safe  on  this  side  of  the  *  Bravo,' "  said 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  2O7 

Hodges.  "  I  knew  Panchita's  mother,"  and  a  look  of 
the  old  times  drifted  over  the  old  borderer's  eyes — the 
shadow  of  a  lost  and  perished  love.  A  memory  of  his 
old  times  of  "  storm  and  stress."  Poor  girl !  Poor 
dead  mother! 

"I  think  I  see  now  why  Mrs.  Milly  Smiley  married 
Senator  Steele,  and  follows  up  this  reckless  young 
devil,"  mused  Jack,  as  Hodges  led  him  into  the  resort 
of  the  cattle  princes,  where  lively  Joe  Garcia  served 
the  smuggled  champagne,  his  white  teeth  flashing 
under  smiling  lips. 

"  But  how  the  dickens  did  the  Washington  beauty 
ever  find  out  about  'Panchita'?"  Jack  thought,  as  he 
answered  Nordenskiold's  bow  of  welcome. 

He  began  to  see  the  tangled  threads  of  the  web  of 
life,  stained  in  wine  and  blood,  broidered  in  fool's  gold, 
twisted  by  the  hands  of  the  Fates,  with  fair  women's 
jeweled  fingers  playing  in  the  meshes,  stretching  from 
Texan  camp  to  Cabinet  on  the  Potomac,  from  Hacienda 
Maxan  to  royal  San  Miguel,  and  from  Havana  and 
Liverpool  to  New  York ! 

Here  in  the  presence  of  these  queerly-assorted  lay 
figures,  he  mused  as  he  sat  at  a  rich  feast,  wondering 
how  deeply  these  sly,  secretive  adventurers  were  in  the 
secrets  of  a  company  which  swayed  the  Texan  legis- 
lature, owned  Federal  judges,  dominated  banks  and 
telegraphs,  and  reached  up  to  New  York's  millions 
and  smooth  pharisaical  merchants,  and  farther  on  into 
the  United  States  Senate,  through  the  bewitching 
"Empress." 

Why  had  Senator  Steele  married  this  waif  of  the  Stars 
and  Bars?  Who  was  the  hidden  No.  4?  A  secret 
powerful  protector  who  could  reach  even  the  secrets  of 
the  White  House  portfolio?  Was  he  in  the  Cabinet? 
Did  the  railroad  franchise,  the  princely  grant,  the  mur- 


2O8  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

murs  of  "a  movement  on  the  frontier"  mean  a  dash  on 
Mexico  as  cowardly  as  when  President  Polk  loosed 
Scott  and  Taylor  in  the  march  to  the  Halls  of  the 
Montezumas? 

The  young  engineer's  head  swam.  How  far  had  he 
his  uncle's  confidence?  Did  Katie  Leavenworth's  ten- 
der eyes  lead  him  on  to  fortune,  or  a  forgotten  grave  in 
the  cactus-bearing  sands  trodden  only  by  bandit  or 
relentless  Comanche?  As  he  listened  to  wit  and 
wassail,  old  stories,  war  reminiscences,  and  freer  allu- 
sion, as  the  wine  flowed  and  loosened  tongues  on  all 
sides,  he  saw  ever  the  sphinx-like  face  of  Olaf  Norden- 
skiold,  calm,  stony,  self-possessed,  rising  out  of  the 
smoke  wreaths.  The  gulf  oysters,  dainty  fishes,  wild 
turkey,  filets  of  grass-fed  beef,  and  saddle  of  venison 
were  discussed,  and  every  liquor  and  wine  which  the 
daring  "contrabandistas"  could  smuggle  in,  were  spread 
in  profusion  before  the  polyglot  circle.  And  this  was 
the  Rio  Grande  country — the  open  gate  beyond  which 
bold  riders  took  their  lives  in  their  hands.  In  a 
moment  of  observation  he  noticed  that  Nordenskiold's 
eyes  never  left  him  long. 

"I  have  it!"  he  realized,  in  his  heart  of  hearts. 
«'  Milly  Smiley  and  this  man  know  all  the  dark  secrets 
of  this  strange  Inner  Circle.  Leaven  worth  and  Uncle 
Mark  are  pillars  at  the  east  and  west,  but  Senator  Steele 
is  the  'open  sesame'  to  the  mystery  of  No.  4;  and  it 
was  to  solve  that  enigma  the  beauty  gave  herself  to  that 
senatorial  Silenus.  Ramon  Maxan  would  dominate  all 
through  her  passionate  love!  He  failed  her  and  now 
she  hates  him!"  Jack's  blood  chilled  as  the  sweet  face 
of  Katie  rose  between  him  and  his  unseen  foe.  He 
would  strike  all  through  her.  "It  is  his  life  or  mine, 
now!"  Jack  swore  in  his  heart.  "I  am  glad  I  will 
have  letters  from  Uncle  Mark  and  Mrs.  Steele  before  I 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  209 

go  to  San  Miguel,"  was  Manson's  inward  comment. 
"I  think  I  will  adopt  the  manner  of  William  the 
Silent.  I  think  that  I  will  not  let  a  soul  know  I  can 
speak  Spanish  here.  I  may  catch  some  local  scoundrels 
off  their  guard.  I  am  sure  of  Bayard,  Jimmy,  and  old 
Colonel  Ford  here.  Hodges  and  Blucher  are  wise  and 
wary.  I  will  meet  them  half-way.  Every  other  man 
here  I  will  hold  guilty  till  he  proves  himself  innocent! 
As  for  prairie  craft,  we'll  see  if  I  have  forgotten  the 
tricks  taught  me  by  the  buffalo-killers  of  the  Black 
Hills." 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  that  you  do  not  drink  to  excess," 
said  Olaf  Nordenskiold,  as  they  walked  under  the 
silent  stars  toward  the  St.  James. 

"  Many  a  good  fellow  has  told  his  story  in  his  cups 
here,  and  has  been  followed,  or  artfully  '  removed  '  at 
the  right  time,"  said  the  old  lawyer. 

The  sound  of  revelry  followed  them  from  the  supper- 
room.  Von  Blucher  and  Henry  Miller  were  singing 
the  "  Wacht  am  Rhein,"  and  the  sound  of  wild  baccha- 
nalian laughter  drifted  out  on  the  night.  The  lawyer 
bent  his  steps  toward  the  wharf,  and  handed  Jack  one 
of  his  private  cigars. 

"  Let's  take  a  turn  around,"  he  said,  "we  are  alone." 
There  was  no  sound  but  the  soft  swish  of  the  phosphor- 
escent waves  on  the  shingly  beach.  A  silver  moon 
painted  the  waves  of  the  Laguna  with  its  broken 
reflections. 

"What  do  you  think  of  them, — our  'leading  citi- 
zens'?" said  Nordenskiold.  His  sharp-cut  features 
wore  a  sneer  like  Mephisto  in  his  scorn  of  the  louts 
carousing  in  the  cellar. 

"  I  can't  make  them  out.  Are  those  the  real  Texans?" 
said  Manson. 

"  No,"  sharply  said  the  lawyer.     "  The  nearness  of 


210  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

the  Zona  Libre  attracts  all  sorts  of  human  flotsam  and 
jetsam.  Here  intrigue  is  always  rife!  I  brought  you 
here  alone  to  tell  you  that  Ford,  Blucher,  Hodges,  old 
Henry  Miller,  and  Tom  Bayard  are  men  to  'tie  to.' 
Distrust  and  watch  every  man  else  whom  you  meet 
for  a  year,  and  above  all  be  guarded  with  Si  Leaven- 
worth.  He's  a  man  who  is  staunch  and  true.  He 
would  die  for  you  if  he  fancied  you,  but  his  temper  is 
fiendish  when  aroused!  No  man  but  Tom  Bayard 
ever  bearded  him  in  anger.  Bayard  is  the  only 
man  alive  who  ever  took  a  bottle  away  from  him! 
Never  speak  to  him  on  business  unless  you  are  alone. 
Never  speak  of  him  at  all.  He's  as  grim  as  the  '  Black 
Douglas,'  and  as  watchful  as  the  tyrant  of  Syracuse. 
He  never  pardons  an  indiscretion,  never  forgives  an 
injury,  and  reigns  as  unchallenged  a  king  of  the  border 
as  if  he  wore  a  trumpery  crown  in  Europe.  His  heart 
is  open  only  to  Jim  (who  is  as  frank  as  the  day)  and  his 
tiger-nature  softens  to  but  one  thing,  the  voice  of  Katie. 
It  is  'Una  and  the  Lion.'  The  little  maid  alone  can 
twist  him  around  her  finger.  '  She  is  a  sly  little  puss." 

Jack  Manson's  brain  was  at  its  highest  tension.  He 
knew  well  that  the  searchlight  of  Nordenskiold's  intel- 
lect was  turned  on  him  now.  A  sudden  inspiration 
caused  him  to  murmur:  "Silent  above  all  to  you,  my 
legal  friend ! — Major  Blucher  has  asked  me  to  drive 
with  him  to-morrow.  Shall  I  go?"  he  said,  changing 
the  subject. 

"  Certainly.  You  are  safe  with  the  men  I  named. 
You  asked  me  for  the  real  Texans.  They  abide 
between  the  Sabine  and  the  Nueces  and  as  far  north 
as  the  Staked  Plains.  Simple,  hardy,  and  hospitable, 
they  try  to  live  no  nearer  each  other  than  a  hard  day's 
ride.  Averse  to  manual  labor,  they  are  unrivalled 
horsemen,  guarding  their  flocks  and  herds.  Great 


FOR    LIFE    AND- LOVE.  211 

land-getters,  they  live  by  the  increase  of  their  stock. 
Their  homes  are  quiet,  their  women  loyal  and  unpre- 
tentious, they  disdain  the  written  details  of  small  traffic 
and  correspondence,  and  seldom  trouble  the  civil  law. 
Equally  at  home  camping  alone  or  riding  in  armed 
bands,  their  word  is  their  bond!  An  entire  devotion  to 
the  South,  a  plenitude  of  useless  profanity,  and  an 
Arabian  hospitality  are  the  natural  result  of  their  sur- 
roundings. Jealous  of  their  personal  honor,  a  blow, 
an  insult  to  the  aged,  or  a  stain  upon  a  woman's  name 
is  atoned  by  blood  alone!  With  those  primitive  people, 
plain  in  dress,  taciturn  and  hearty,  a  man  of  prudence 
can  live  his  life  with  neither  open  quarrel  nor  secret 
enmity.  But,  here  on  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
the  five  senses  are  not  enough.  Eternal  vigilance  is 
hardly  sufficient.  Each  bush  may  have  its  concealed 
assassin,  any  day  bring  some  tumult,  Indian  raid,  or 
Mexican  inroad.  Unpunished  marauders  lurk  every- 
where, and  the  eye  of  distrust,  the  hand  of  violence, 
the  snares  of  malignant  devils  are  around  you  every 
day.  I  would  not  dare  to  be  seen  talking  habitually 
even  with  you  alone!  This  silent  night  is  our  safe- 
guard. 

"  As  for  a  typical  Texan,  in  the  best  form  as  to  him- 
self and  his  home,  Colonel  Tom  Bayard  is  an  exemplar. 
At  his  ranch  on  the  Nueces,  his  quiet,  sweet-faced 
old  mother  is  the  household  deity.  For  a  great  frontier 
establishment,  San  Miguel  is  a  model.  Neither  it  nor 
Bayard's  ranch  can  be  approached  without  scores  of 
wary  stock-men,  riding  the  range,  spying  even  a  single 
intruder. 

"  To  realize  what  a  Texan  wife  and  mother  can 
be,  you  must  observe  Si  Leavenworth's  noble  help- 
meet. Her  plain  home-made  gown  covers,  a  heart  as 
pure  arid  true  as  a  crystal.  For  fortitude,  kindness, 


212  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

long-suffering,  and  a  patient,  self-supporting  struggle 
against  uncouth  surroundings,  she  is  a  star  of  her  sex. 
Quiet,  watchful,  self -controlled,  she  has  the  modest 
dignity  of  nature's  nobility.  Withal,  her  immediate 
surroundings  are  dainty.  Though  poor,  her  father,  a 
model  Southern  clergyman,  was  of  gentle  breeding. 
Her  education,  a  little  antique,  is  yet  sound,  and  she 
would,  in  her  unobtrusive  merit,  grace  any  station.  To 
do  old  Silas  justice,  her  slightest  wish  is  his  law  in  her 
own  province.  Alas!  He  has  had  an  unending  fight 
— a  wild  battle  with  fortune.  I  have  all  his  affairs  in 
my  hands,  as  legal  adviser.  I  expect  to  see  him  some 
day  brought  to  my  door,  dead  in  his  travelling  wagon. 
It  is  a  steel-clad,  portable  fortfication,  and  his  personal 
arsenal  is  a  wonder.  His  life  has  been  attempted 
twenty  times.  So  far  he  has  foiled  all  attacks.  I 
think  one  reason  that  he  wishes  to  encourage  the  rail- 
way is  to  bring  in  a  little  army  of  reliable  citizens 
around  his  baronial  grant.  But  like  all  frontier  kings, 
he  can  not  see  the  benefits  of  sub-division,  and  assisting 
small  farmers.  The  error  of  the  South  has  ever  been 
to  look  down  on  independent,  honest  labor.  There's 
no  medium  here  yet  between  the  *  ranchero,'  or  great 
planter,  and  the  poor  white  trash.  Wherever  the  rail- 
way touches,  worthy  people  come  in.  Here  on  the 
border,"  said  Nordenskiold,  with  a  sigh,  "  only  Leaven- 
worth  can  afford  to  keep  a  private  army  of  retainers  to 
fight  Comanches,  horse-thieves,  and  the  lawless  mon- 
grel wanderers." 

The  two  men  paced  up  the  wharf,  and  Jack  Manson, 
watching  the  silver  moon  swinging  west  to  San 
Miguel,  thought  fondly  of  the  little  Texas  princess 
safe  within  the  guarded  lines  fifty  miles  away.  "  A 
queer,  strange  land  of  every  future  promise.  To-day, 
it  is  under  the  ban,"  he  muttered,  as  the  wild  stories  of 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  213 

the  night's  revelry  led  him  far  out  into  the  dim  future. 
It  was  a  devious  path,  by  unknown  ways,  yet  along  it 
shone  the  loving  eyes  of  Katie  Leavenworth,  brighter 
than  the  argent  moon  far  above  him  in  the  blue  ether! 

There  was  a  grim  smile  on  Major  Blucher's  face 
as  Mr.  Jack  •  Manson  surveyed  the  stout  buckboard 
and  two  gaunt,  vicious  mules,  which  formed  the  exiled 
noble's  equipage,  when  he  drove  up  next  day.  Manson 
was  amused.  It  was  a  queer  outfit. 

"  Donnerwetter!  They're  not  so  handsome,  but  they 
can  smell  an  Indian  a  mile  away,  and  need  no  whip. 
Jump  in,"  cried  the  jovial  Teuton,  as  he  reflected  he 
had  a  bottle  of  "  cocktails  "  to  sustain  him.  "  I  wished 
to  bring  along  Henry  Miller,  but,  between  you  and  I, 
he's  been  playing  poker  ever  since  you  left  us,  over 
at  Joe  Garcia's.  Ah!  he's  a  wonder!  He  takes  all  our 
loose  money  away.  I  wish  we  had  him  here,  not 
thrown  away  on  Brownsville.  He's  too  good  to  live 
at  that  smuggling  hole." 

With  much  Teutonic  interpolation,  and  occasional 
Spanish  objurgations  directed  to  his  mules,  Blucher 
piloted  his  guest.  He  was  a  fiery  character,  and 
remarked,  in  explanation  of  his  cursing,  in  recondite 
Castalian :"  They  seem  to  go  better  when  I  swear  in 
Spanish.  I've  tried  all  languages.  Spanish  suits  these 
stubborn  fellows  best !  " 

"  It  is  a  little  strange,  Major,  that  Mr.  Leavenworth 
did  not  come  down  and  meet  his  children  on  their 
arrival,"  said  Manson,  who  wished  to  reap  the  benefit 
of  Blucher's  sagacity. 

"You  think  so!"  laughed  the  German.  "  The  last 
time  he  came  down,  he  got  here  safe,  for  he  had  a  good 
guard.  But  going  home  they  waited  for  him.  A  dozen 
fellows  hid  in  the  big  Arroyo,  and  fired  into  his  ambu- 
lance. They  killed  a  young  German  who  was  going 


214  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

out  to  survey  the  new  ranch  lines.  The  horses  ran 
away  and  there  was  a  bad  time.  That's  why  he  keeps 
quiet  a  little." 

"  Was  he  hurt? "  said  Manson,  with  a  show  of  inter- 
est. 

"  Oh,  no,  he  just  lay  down  and  fired  out  of  the  rear  of 
the  wagon.  He  emptied  a  Winchester  into  them." 

"  What  was  it  done  for?"  Manson  queried. 

The  Major  smartly  cut  his  rebellious  mule,  and  slowly 
said,  with  an  air  of  indecision:  "  Old  Si  had  been  mixed 
up  in  hanging  a  lot  of  men  found  skinning  cattle  on 
his  ranch.  I  suppose  they  were  these  fellows'  friends." 

Blucher's  voice  was  very  unconcerned.  Manson  was 
amazed.  "  For  skinning  cattle? "  he  said. 

"  Yes,  the  old  man  has  a  '  matanza'  of  his  own  and 
kills  ten  or  twenty  thousand  cattle  now  and  then  to  thin 
out  the  herds.  The  hides,  horns,  tails,  and  tallow  are 
all  he  saves.  The  meat  is  fed  to  swine  which  the 
poorer  Mexicans  buy  and  drive  away." 

"What  became  of  the  young  German?"  Manson 
was  interested  in  the  poor  stranger. 

"  We  buried  him  by  the  road !  "  Blucher  replied,  and 
added,  with  pardonable  pride.  "  I  wrote  a  nice  letter  to 
his  mother  in  Nuremberg!" 

"  It  was  not  on  account  of  the  Rio  Grande  Com- 
pany ?  "  said  Jack,  after  pondering  a  moment. 

"  Himmel!  my  lad,"  roared  Blucher,  "  If  you  want  to 
keep  out  of  trouble,  don't  talk  freely  here  about  the 
Company.  Best  drop  the  subject!  It  has  its  friends 
and  enemies,"  the  Prussian  sharply  said.  "  I  tell  you 
this  for  your  own  safety." 

Manson  reflected:  "  An  agreeable  field  for  a  rising 
young  engineer!  Where  is  the  nefarious  side  of  this 
Company?  Has  Mark  Manson  sent  me  here  on  a 
fool's  errand,  or  is  he  hoodwinked?"  He  was  puzzled. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  215 

The  old  German  resumed  more  kindly:  "  I  will 
tell  you,  my  boy,  all  is  under  the  rose  here!  Things 
are  not  what  they  seem.  It  has  been  so  since 
1846.  Every  gambler  in  New  Orleans  flocked  here 
after  Taylor's  army.  The  United  States  was  betrayed 
through  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  There  was 
no  real  blockade  here.  I  was  Major  of  Artillery;  we 
had  only  one  old  thirty-two  pounder  at  Corpus  Christi 
to  defend  the  town.  We  did  not  dare  to  fire  it.  We 
had  a  blockade  of  an  old  Yankee  sailing  bark,  the 
'  Sachem.'  You  may  judge  of  the  fierceness  of  the 
war  here!  We  captured  the  commander  on  shore 
down  at  Flower  Point  trying  to  buy  some  butter- 
milk."- Blucher  roared,  "We  gave  him  buttermilk! 
We  put  him  in  the  log  slave  pen  at  Corpus,  with  a 
sign,  'A  Yankee  Pirate,'  and  sent  him  up  to  Libby 
Prison  to  get  buttermilk  nearer  home.  Now,"  the 
Prussian's  keen  gray  eyes  flashed,  "a  hundred  mile 
from  there,  I  saw  on  the  Mexican  side  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  at  Bagdad,  a  pile  of  commissary  stores  a  mile 
long,  marked  'A.  C.  S.  U.  S.  Army,  New  Orleans.' 
The  same  vessels  which  slipped  through  the  papef 
blockade  with  them  went  back,  loaded  in  exchange  with 
Confederate  cotton."  The  jolly  old  ex-rebel  roared: 
"  It  was  an  opera-bouffe  war  here.  We  got  arms,  medi- 
cines, ammunition,  and  all  we  wanted  the  same  way. 
Many  cases  were  marked  (  New  York  '  and  '  Boston.' 
Somewhere  there  was  a  great  leak  in  the  Union  lines! 
The  war  made  the  border  rich.  Look  at  old  Leaven- 
worth.  He  and  his  partners  were  the  biggest  rebels 
here.  They  took  the  oath  at  the  surrender!  They 
bought  a  dozen  river  steamers  from  the  Yankee 
quartermasters  for  the  price  of  the  ropes  and  cabin  dishes 
alone,  and  went  at  once  to  hauling  freight  up  the 
river  for  Uncle  Sam." 


2l6  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"Was  it  possible!"   Manson  said  in  astonishment. 

"  Certainly,"    said    Blucher,  lighting  a    fresh    cigar. 

"  The  quartermaster  and  commissaries,  I  suppose 
retired  with  fortunes  when  the  cruel  war  was  over." 

Blucher  laughed  heartily. 

"  Old  Si  bought  seven  thousand  mules  and  horses  at 
an  army  sale  here.  They  were  pastured  on  his  ranch. 
The  boys  lamed  them  with  horse-hair  cords  tied  around 
their  fetlocks.  In  lots  of  a  hundred  they  were  con- 
demned and  sold  at  a  dollar  apiece.  The  'disease'  was 
soon  cured,  and  Si  made  the  Government  pay  for  their 
pasture  '  during  treatment.'  That  was  a  joke  on  Uncle 
Sam." 

"What  did  he  do  with  them?  "  Jack  merely  asked; 
"  start  an  army  of  his  own?" 

"  Xein,"  said  Blucher,  "  he  took  contracts  to  haul  the 
army  freight  at  enormous  rates  to  all  the  new  posts 
with  these  steamers  and  animals.  He  got  the  wagons, 
too.  They  bought  a  railroad  twenty-three  miles  long, 
for  the  price  of  the  spikes,  from  Point  Isabel  to  Browns- 
ville. Ah,  yes,  Texas  is  full  of  simple  people  like  my 
old  friend,  Si  Leavenworth,  and  his  partners." 

Jack  Manson  thought  of  No.  4.  "Was  he  also  a  mys- 
terious war  veteran?"  His  head  was  swimming. 

"Can  these  stories  be  really  true?"  he  said  half- 
aloud. 

The  old  major  roared  at  his  simplicity. 

"I'll  tell  you  the  best  yarn.  Two  blockade  runners 
were  chased  ashore  in  Padre  Island  at  the  close  of  the 
war.  They  were  really  consigned  by  Fraser,  Trenholm 
&  Co.,  of  Liverpool,  to  Si  Leavenworth,  Foley  of 
Monterey,  Park,  and  Jimmy  Mulvain.  Old  Silas 
was  'loyal'  after  taking  the  oath.  He  bought  them  at 
auction.  One  of  the  boats  was  hauled  off,  the 
other  was  dismantled.  The  cargoes  were  all  saved. 


FOR    MFE    AND    LOVE.  217 

The  old  iron  in  one  week  paid  for  all,  and  the  boys 
divided  seven  hundred  thousand  dollars.  I  got  a  few 
thousand  dollars  for  the  engineering,  and  twenty  boxes 
of  the  best  champagne  I  ever  drank.  Ah,  yes,  it  pays 
to  be  loyal  now !  Old  Si  is  loyal.  He  furnishes  the 
beef,  carries  the  mails,  hauls  the  freight,  sells  the  mules 
and  horses  to  the  army,  and  contracts  all  the  hay  and 
forage  west  of  San  Antonio." 

"  I  should  think  that  his  accounts  would  betray  him," 
said  Jack,  as  No.  4  loomed  up  in  his  mind. 

"  Dey  keep  no  accounts,"  remarked  Blucher.  "  Old 
Rudolf  Harbeck  burns  his  books  once  a  year,  and 
Chisholm,  at  New  Orleans,  keeps  the  hard  cash — all 
get  a  dividend!  Every  army  purchasing  agent  down 
here  drives  better  horses  than  old  Si  himself.  As  for 
money,  bah!  It  is  nothing.  They  roll  in  it." 

"  It's  a  nice  country !  "  said  Manson,  with  some  sar- 
casm. 

"Yes!  to  get  out  of,"  rejoined  the  saturnine  Blucher. 
"  This  railroad  charter  was  rushed  through  the  same 
way.  Olaf  Nordenskiold  has  got  the  Texan  legislature 
in  his  pocket.  He  will  organize  the  road.  Si  Leaven- 
worth  and  a  few  friends  up  North  will  grab  the  lands 
for  the  mere  price  of  the  survey.  I  suppose  they  will 
square  him  with  the  Government  men  and  divide  these 
pickings." 

Mr.  Jack  Manson  felt  the  scales  falling  from  his  eyes. 

"  There's  the  mail  boat,"  joyously  said  Blucher,  as 
they  drove  down  the  main  street.  His  "  cocktail " 
bottle  was  empty.  "  I  could  tell  you  some  real  strange 
things  if  I  had  time,"  the  major  concluded  as  the  team 
drew  up  at  the  "  St.  James." 

"  I  don't  doubt  it  a  moment,"  replied  the  neophyte, 
with  some  dryness  of  tone.  "  It  is  a  very  interesting 
country,  I  am  sure." 


2l8  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"Oh!  Decidedly!  You  will  find  it  so,  my  young 
friend,"  remarked  the  old  surveyor  cheerfully,  as  he 
led  the  way  to  the  bar  for  a  solemn  libation. 

Before  Manson  escaped  from  the  clutches  of  the 
hilarious  German,  who  often  neglected  to  visit "  Castle 
Blucher  "  on  the  hills  for  days,  while  he  contemplated 
the  adornments  of  the  St.  James  bar-room,  Norden- 
skiold  entered. 

"  Come  up  in  the  upper  verandah.  I  have  letters  for 
you,"  he  whispered,  as  he  chose  a  cigar. 

Jack's  hand  trembled,  as  he  opened  a  letter  sealed 
with  a  crest.  He  allowed  even  Mark  Manson's  cipher 
letter  to  lie  unheeded  as  the  perfumed  sheet  he  held 
was  eagerly  scanned.  It  was  unsigned. 

I  am  now  a  wife.  My  telegram  will  have  told  you  whom  to 
fear.  From  this  day,  my  interests  are  only  those  of  the  man 
whose  name  I  bear.  Steele  has  told  me  all,  and  one  1  will  not 
name,  wrote  from  New  Orleans.  I  know  that  human  tiger. 
He  has  imprudently  exposed  his  plans.  He  vows  vengeance  on 
you,  on  Leavenworth,  on  the  girl  you  love!  Find  out  if  he 
knows  your  side  of  the  river.  Search  his  past  history.  Watch 
for  his  friends  and  spies.  Distrust  anything  happening,  not 
clearly  explained.  He  will  be  behind  it  all.  You  do  not  know 
yet  a  Creole's  revenge.  Pray  God  you  may  never!  The  Sena- 
tor has  told  me  all,  for  Chisholm  held  nothing  back.  Watch 
even  the  shadow  by  your  side.  There  is  danger  in  the  very  air 
you  breathe.  I  know  the  rage  and  resentment  of  your  foe  when 
he  will  learn  of  my  marriage.  Write  me  under  my  old  name  at 
my  residence.  S.  trusts  me  in  all;  1  have  his  every  secret  now. 
Whatever  I  may  be  to  others,  you  will  always  find  me  the  same. 
Send  me  a  safe  address  for  your  letters.  Had  1  not  better  con- 
fide in  your  uncle  and  let  him  advise  me?  He  can  telegraph  you 
in  cipher.  I  will  go  to  New  York  and  see  him  alone.  Ladies 
have  always  "  metropolitan  shopping"  to  do.  If  you  wish  me 
to,  telegraph  only  the  word  "Yes"  to  the  address  I  send.  Do 
you  not  think  I  am  at  heart  true?  I  will  know  if  you  answer 
by  telegraph.  A  woman's  friendship  is  not  to  be  lightly  thrown 
away. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  219 

"Would  she  tell  me  the  secret  of  'No.  4'?"  Jack 
questioned,  as  he  folded  the  letter.  "  Mark  Manson 
will  divine  it,  if  he  knows  it  not  already!  A  strange 
guardian  angel!"  There  was  a  shadow  on  his  brow  as 
he  opened  his  uncle's  brief  lines. 

Steele's  marriage  astounds  me.  I  learn  of  it  by  the  telegraph 
announcement  in  the  journals.  I  shall  try  and  fathom  the 
mystery  by  seeing  her.  He  is  a  waxen  mask.  She  has  married 
him  for  reasons  of  her  own.  What  they  are  1  know  not  now, 
but  1  will,  soon.  The  air  is  full  of  border  rumors.  Some  great 
movement  is-  imminent.  Urge  on  the  organization.  Do  not 
vary  my  instructions.  If  Leavenwortli  and  his  lawyer  act 
openly  and  deal  with  you  as  I  wish,  all  is  well.  Send  news  by 
the  wire  of  t.he  completed  formalities.  Money  and  materials 
ready.  When  the  details  warrant,  go  out  and  thoroughly 
examine  the  line.  Then,  lose  no  time.  Use  every  dollar  and 
man  needed.  Watch  over  your  own  safety  for  your  own  future 
and  the  sake  of  your 

UNCLE  MARK. 

"  I'll  burn  my  ships,"  said  Jack,  as  he  rose  to  saunter 
away  to  the  telegraph  office. 

"  One  moment,"  whispered  Nordenskiold.  "  I  leave 
at  once  for  San  Miguel.  No  one  here  knows  I  am 
going.  I  apparently  take  a  walk.  My  team  awaits  me 
hidden  on  the  hill.  We  will  send  in  for  you.  Distrust 
anything  but  Jimmy's  hand  or  a  letter  from  Bayard 
or  myself.  Be  prudent.  Don't  say  good-bye." 

"  So  even  this  Machiavelli  sneaks  away  unknown  to 
his  friends.  Nice  country!"  ejaculated  Jack,  as  he 
ran  against  Major  Blucher  at  the  foot  of  the  staircase. 

"  See  here,  do  you  know  a  man  named  Ramon 
Maxan  ?  "  The  Prussian  drew  him  into  a  dark  corner. 
He  hoarsely  whispered :  "  A  dangerous,  slippery  devil ! 
A  human  jaguar!  He  sneaked  around  the  Mexican 
border  and  helped  in  those  dark  deeds  of  the  war  I  told 
you  of.  That  combination  had  to  use  him,  and  he 


22O  FOR     T.IFE    AXD    I.OVF. 

knows  too  much.  He  keeps  away  from  here.  His 
knowledge  of  languages  and  graceful  appearance 
helped  him.  He  played  off  as  a  rich  young  Cuban, 
and  he  slid  in  and  out  of  New  Orleans,  Matamoras, 
Havana,  Paris,  and  Liverpool  during  the  whole  war. 
He  was  paid  a  good  deal  and  stole  more!  If  you 
should  ever  have  a  word  with  him,  shoot  him  first  and 
explain  afterward,"  said  the  wily  philosopher.  "-They 
don't  care  to  murder  him  openly  over  the  Bravo,  for  he 
has  lodged  papers  abroad  implicating  high  Mexican 
officials.  His  *  hacienda '  is  a  tiger's  den.  Its  walls 
hide  many  secrets!  He  is  hand  and  glove  with  every 
scoundrel  here  from  No  Man's  Land  to  '  Las  Cuevas,' 
the  robber  -  crossing.  He  will  not  live  to  be  a 
patriarch!"  oracularly  remarked  the  major,  as  he 
remembered  his  hungry  mules,  now  lifting  their  voices 
in  protest. 

Manson,  with  bowed  head,  clutched  the  slip  of  paper 
with  the  pencilled  address.  He  sent  a  dispatch  as  indi- 
cated : 

Yes,  see  him  at  once! 

"  I  will  write  to  her  and  Mark  and  then  trust  to  love 
and  luck!" 


CHAPTER  X. 

AT  SAN  MIGUEL "  FOR   MY  SAKE  " WITH  THE    WILD 

RIDERS — A      FIGHTING         TRINITY THE         TIGER 

BALKED  OF    HIS    PREY. 

IT  WAS  midnight  when  Manson  threw  down  his  pen. 

"  There,  I  can  do  no  more,"  he  cried.  "  Every  bower 
anchor  is  out  now.  I  must  ride  out  the  storm  of  Texan 
life." 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE.  221 

Roused  at  eight  o'clock,  he  sauntered  over  to  the 
post-office.  He  had  taken  the  precaution  to  cover  both 
his  letters  to  his  uncle's  banker  at  Washington.  Nor- 
denskiold  had  wained  him  of  the  local  mysteries  of 
mail  transit.  "  I  have  brought  them  both  en  train 
now.  My  route  is  clear.  San  Miguel,  the  survey,  and 
my  report!  Then,  the  construction  of  the  road!  Or 
do  they  only  wish  to  do  enough  to  secure  the  land? 
I  must  drift  along  with  the  tide  which  bears  me  nearer 
to  Katie." 

He  returned  to  the  hotel,  his    letters   safely    mailed. 

When  Jack  left  the  breakfast  room,  the  clerk  said : 
"  I  have  a  box  of  cigars  sent  to  you."  Passing  into  the 
office,  Manson  carried  it  to  his  room.  The  card  bore 
"  compliments  O.  N."  "Ah!  some  .sign  to  me.  I'll 
look  therein."  Opening  it,  a  folded  slip  bore  the  words: 

Not  one  imprudent  word.  You  are  now  alone.  When  we  send 
for  you  leave  quietly  as  directed  by  the  messenger.  He  will  bring 
your  luggage.  Say  not  when  you  go.  Your  hotel  accounts  have 
been  provided  for.  You  will  meet  friends  outside  the  town.  Wait 
in  patience.  It  may  be  a  week. 

The  signature  was  the  lawyer's. 

"  More  mystery,"  growled  Jack,  tossing  the  box  on 
the  bed.  "  Is  there  nothing  straight-forward  and  above- 
board  here?  I  must  find  some  means  to  kill  time, to  avoid 
that  beastly  drinking-room,  with  its  blinking  caricatures 
of  the  heroes  of  the  Lost  Cause,  its  noisy  cowboys, 
drunken  loungers,  and  dust-begrimed  wayfarers. 
There  are  weapons  enough  carried  around  the  old 
billiard  table  to  fit  out  a  pirate  ship."  An  inspiration 
came  to  him.  Several  of  the  sailors  awaiting  orders 
were  lounging  around.  Selecting  two  of  the  most 
intelligent,  he  cruised  far  and  near  in  a  stout  sail-boat, 
sketching  the  harbor,  studying  maps  furnished  by  the 
mystified  Bluch'er,  and  thus  gained  a  local  insight  into 


222  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

the  port's  features.  At  night,  alone,  he  smoked  his 
cigar  on  the  verandah  and  waited  for  his  summons. 
While  thus  seated,  a  week  after  Nordenskiold's  depart- 
ure, he  started  in  surprise  as  two  men  near  him  care- 
lessly began  to  canvass  the  name  of  Ramon  Maxan. 
"  I'll  play  listener.  All's  fair — in  Texas,"  he  decided. 

Several  visits  to  the  "  bar  "  had  made  the  strangers 
loquacious.  "  Where  did  you  see  him  ?  I  thought  he 
was  in  Europe,"  began  a  cavalier  in  local  riding  cos- 
tume. 

"  At  his  ranch.  I  came  over  with  the  buck-board 
from  Brownsville.  He's  just  up  from  Tampico,"  the 
other  replied. 

"What  were  you  looking  up?"  said  the  first  care- 
lessly. 

"  I  wanted  twenty  or  thirty  good  cattle  horses.  I'm 
sending  a  drive  up  to  Kansas  soon.  Maxan  always  has 
lots  of  good  horses  over  there,"  the  traveller  continued. 

"Yes;  if  you  don't  look  into  the  brands,"  chuckled 
the  speaker.  "  Did  you  get  bargains?  " 

"  I  made  out  pretty  fair.  I'd  'a  done  better  if  the 
d — d  yellow  Jaguar  himself  hadn't  'a  come  home  on 
the  sly.  I'm  solid  with  his  major  domo,  old  Antonio. 
He's  a  rare  scoundrel ;  so's  his  master." 

"  Right  you  are.  Is  that  pretty  gal  from  Laredo, 
over  yonder  yet.  You  know;  the  one  he  run  off,"  the 
drawling  borderer  continued. 

"  Yaas;  an'  ole  Antonio  keeps  her  precious  close!  I 
couldn't  get  a  sight  of  her.  That  depaitment  is  kept 
like  a  fort.  J  y/ouldn't  give  much  for  a  man's  life  who 
fooled  around  there.  But  the  'Jaguar,'  as  them 
'  greasers'  call  him,  has  some  big  scheme  on  foot.  He's 
gettin'  a  band  of  about  twenty  or  thirty  of  the  worst 
scoundrels  together  I  ever  laid  eyes  on." 

"  What's  up?  "  was  the  brief  query,  as  the  speaker  bit 
off  a  huge  piece  of  tobacco. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  223 

"  He's  strikin'  out  for  Eagle  Pass,  an'  I  suspicion  he's 
goin'  to  run  over  some  silver,  or  make  a  big  contraband 
crossing.  He's  doing  the  dirty  work  for  all  that  crowd 
of  Mexican  generals.  They're  thicker  than  flies  on  the 
border.  I  suppose  he'll  meet  some  of  them  outcast 
devils  from  No  Man's  Land,  up  on  the  Pecos,  with  a 
lot  of  fine  stolen  horses  from  the  Indian  Territory  or 
New  Mexico,  and  when  he  works  back  he'll  run  off  a 
good  band  of  our  fat  cattle." 

"  That's  about  his  game.  I  heard  he  was  operatin' 
with  that  hatchet-faced  thief,  Caballo  Blanco.  Some  of 
the  boys  back  from  the  river  told  me  so,"  said  the 
second. 

"  Now  that's  strange,"  the  first  replied  with  an  air  of 
decided  interest.  "  This  Mexican  '  blood '  is  rich  and 
puts  on  lots  of  airs.  I  suppose  he's  dodging  old  man 
Leavenworth  and  Nordenskiold." 

"  Old  Si  would  hang  any  fellow  from  the  other  side, 
with  a  band  of  cattle,  even  if  they  had  bills  of  sale 
painted  on  their  sides.  As  for  that  lawyer  devil,  he's 
afraid  of  nothin'  livin'.  He's  got  it  in  for  him  about 
Panchita.  The  old  fox  used  to  be  very  sweet  on  her 
mother." 

"  You're  right,  Bill.  I  fancy  Maxan's  crowd  would 
take  in  most  anything  that  comes  along,  and  yet  he's 
been  playin'  a  sly  game.  He  likes  to  put  up  his  jobs 
mostly  by  other  fellows  in  his  train.  If  he's  a  comin' 
to  this  side,  there's  blood  on  the  face  of  the  moon  some- 
where." 

"  You  bet  there  is,  an'  it's  something  special.  He  told 
me  if  I  wanted  any  more  horses  to  send  a  note  to  him  to 
ole  man  Castro,  up  at  .San  Diegita,  any  time  in  a  month 
or  so.  That's  just  off  Leavenworth's  ranch,  you  know, 
the  fandango  house,"  said  the  speaker.  "  Let's  get  a 
drink." 


224  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

As  they  unsteadily  toiled  down-stairs,  the  other  said: 
"  He  is  a  cunning  devil  for  cards  an'  women  an'  throat- 
cutting.  I've  known  him  since  Confederate  war  times, 
an'  never  knowed  the  first  square  thing  in  him !  I  wish 
to  God  some  fellow  would  take  his  sign  in.'' 

"Amen!"  silently  added  Manson,  as  the  prairie  lords 
vanished.  "I  must  make  a  note  of  this.  Leavenworth 
should  hear  this  at  once.  It  looks  ominous.  Maxan 
is  hovering  around  already !  " 

Jack  stepped  to  his  room.  The  clerk  stood  at  the 
door.  "There's  a  man  in  there  with  a  message  for  you. 
It's  all  right;  he's  Mr.  Jim's  private  ridin'  messenger." 

Manson  entered  his  room  and  by  the  single  flickering 
candle  saw  a  tall,  raw-boned  scout  of  fifty  standing,  hat 
in  hand.  He  silently  gave  the  engineer  a  scrawl  in 
Jimmy  Leavenworth's  well-known  hand: 

This  is  Basilio,  my  own  man.  He  will  give  you  a  sealed 
letter. 

The  curtains  were  drawn  and  Jack  motioned  the  old 
man  to  a  seat.  He  was  a  sun-bronzed  Mexican  half- 
breed,  with  the  lank,  straight  hair  of  the  Indian.  Two 
pistols  and  a  knife  ornamented  his  belt.  Drawing  a 
pouch  from  his  goatskin  riding  jacket,  he  gravely  made 
a  cornhusk  cigarette,  ceremoniously  depositing  his  broad 
sombrero  and  heavy  silver-mounted  rawhide  quirt  at  his 
feet. 

Jack  ran  over  the  letter.  "Good!"  he  cried.  "I  will 
be  there." 

In  very  fair  English,  Basilio  announced  that  he  would 
await  Manson  at  the  head  of  the  bluff  at  daylight.  He 
then  noiselessly  disappeared. 

"Ah!  moccasins!  I  suppose  he's  a  half  Cherokee  or 
Xickapoo.  Now  for  San  Miguel,  for  Katie,  and  to  out- 
wit 'el  Jaguar,'  "  cried  Jack,  as  he  sat  down  to  study 
the  letter.  "Even  if  we  are  not  bandits,  Bayard, 


FOR    I. IKK    AND    LOVE.  225 

Jimmy,  and  I  will  try  the  old  Three  Guardsmen's 
motto,  '  One  for  all  and  all  for  one.'  It's  for  Katie's 
sake,"  he  mused,  as  her  fair  young  face  beamed  on  him 
in  fancy  again,  as  delicately  lovely  as  when  she 
trembled  in  his  arms  when  the  white-veiled  spirit  of 
Death  sought  her  in  the  Gulf  cyclone. 

Manson  sprang  to  his  feet  at  dawn,  for  a  light  tap  at 
his  door  roused  him. 

"Your  man  has  been  here  already!"  said  the  sleepy 
clerk.  "Pack  your  little  things.  I  will  send  your  break- 
fast up.  As  for  your  trunks,  Don  Basil io  will  get  them 
from  the  tienda  on  the  hill.  I'll  send  them  up  in 
the  ox-cart,  when  my  lazy  niggers  wake  up.  Then  slip 
out  quietly;  they  are  ready.  Here's  an  eye-opener." 
The  roughly  amiable  Texan  deposited  a  mixture  on  the 
table,  calculated  to  unsettle  the  good  resolutions  of  a 
saint. 

The  Texan  frontier  cocktail,  like  the  border  pistol, 
is  heavily  loaded,  and  of  utmost  potency.  Civilized 
drinks  are  to  it  in  the  ratio  of  an  ant-hill  to  a  budding 
pyramid. 

Slipping  out  in  the  gray  of  the  dawn,  Manson  turned 
his  back  on  the  misty  Laguna,  and  reached  the  head  of 
the  gorge  unobserved. 

Don  Basilio,  a  spectral-looking  Don  Quixote,  sat 
his  rebellious  charger  with  the  air  of  Cervantes'  great 
hero.  His  gentle  sadness  was  not  disturbed  by  the 
frantic  bucking  of  his  wall-eyed,  raw-boned  mustang. 
The  deep  lines  of  his  face  never  changed.  With  a 
graceful  flourish  of  his  whip,  he  motioned  Jack  into 
a  side  alley  of  the  Mexican  adjunct  of  Corpus  Chris. i, 
vulgarly  called  "  Greaserville." 

"  It's  the  white  men  they  wish  to  hoodwink,  not 
the  Mexicans,"  thought  Manson.  "  The  great  Com- 
pany's enemies  arc  of  their  own  envious  neighbors." 


?26  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

l-.\  a  '.ong  spring  wagon,  double- seated,  with  four 
superb  wiry  mules  as  motive  power,  Colonel  Tom 
Bayard  at  the  reins,  Manson  recognized  in  the  other 
muffled  passenger,  the  indomitable  Hodges. 

"Jump  in,  Jack,"  cried  Bayard  gaily.  "Here's  your 
chariot.  You  will  have  your  coffee  poured  by  Miss 
Katie,  at  San  Miguel  to-night.  Basilio  will  send  on 
your  trunks  in  another  team."  With  a  bound,  the 
Spanish-bred  mules  briskly  trotted  away.  As  they 
drew  out  over  the  broad  prairie,  through  which  the 
spring  grass  was  peeping,  Manson  noted  the  armament 
of  his  companions.  Huge  revolvers  and  knives  were 
swung  from  their  cartridge-filled  belts.  A  Winchester 
carbine  lay  beside  each  seat,  save  Hodges'  nook,  where 
his  old  reliable  "  army  gun,"  a  cut-off  Springfield 
breechloader,  was  in  readiness. 

"  You  prefer  the  old  service  gun,  Colonel,"  said  Jack, 
as  he  smilingly  waved  away  a  flask  of  three-star 
Hennessey. 

"  I  can  kill  a  Mexican  with  it  a  half-mile  off,  if  I  can 
sight  him  fair,"  quietly  said  the  grim  old  borderer. 

Manson  understood  his  peculiar  smile  when  Bayard 
told  him  later  that  Hodges'  life  had  been  one  long  pot- 
hunt  after  that  fated  class  since  a  band  of  guerrilhis 
had  murdered  his  parents  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Mexi- 
can War.  "  They  have  paid  dearly  for  failing  to  cut 
his  own  throat  scientifically.  He  is  insane  in  his  unsatis- 
fied revenge,"  said  the  soldier.  "  He  has  already  killed 
a  couple  of  dozen  of  his  enemies.  They  call  him  'El 
Terror.' " 

The  mists  of  morning  rose  from  the  far-rolling 
prairies.  Before  them  not  a  tree  was  in  sight. 
Hundreds  of  hares  fled  affrighted,  and  stray  deer  and 
antelope  bounded  across  the  road,  leaping  out  of  the 
low  shrub  bushes. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOV:-:.  22*7 

Colonel  Tom  Bayard  whispered :  "  I  will  not  repeat 
all  the  hospitable  messages  I  bring.  You  will  soon 
hear  them.  We  will  travel  along  easily."  A  light 
spring  wagon  soon  overtook  them.  Beside  the  boy; 
driving  the  baggage,  rode  Joaquin  Ximenes  on  his 
beautiful  steed.  Jack  caught  a  vicious  glance  from  his 
furtive  eyes. 

"  What  is  that  unhung  wretch  doing  here  with  us?  " 
Manson  demanded  of  Bayard. 

"  I  suppose,"  said  Colonel  Tom,  "  he  rode  in  for 
Rudolf  Harbeck.  .He  carries  all  the  confidential 
business  dispatches.  He  is  very  thick  with  the  old 
book-keeper,  and  I  suppose  they  both  pick  up  crumbs 
from  the  Company's  table.  Harbeck  knows  too  much 
to  be  set  adrift.  This  fellow  is  under  his  special  pro- 
tection. He  rode  down  yesterday  with  Basilio  for 
company.  Now,  there's  a  man  as  true  as  steel.  He 
can  throw  a  bullock  as  well  as  our  best.  He  is  a 
perfect  rider.  I've  known  him  to  take  a  canteen,  his 
'papelitos',  and  a  couple  of  pounds  of  'pinole'  and  do 
a  hundred  and  ten  miles  in  a  day  in  the  Indian  country. 
He  can  spot  a  moving  form  on  the  desert,  and  tell  you 
what  it  is,  further  than  you  can  see  it  with  a  glass. 
Utterly  ignorant  of  books,  he  is  a  walking  map  of 
Texas.  Hardly  a  corner  of  its  two  hundred  and 
seventy-five  thousand  square  miles  he  does  not  know. 
He  has  seen  Texas  grow  from  thirty  thousand  to  nine 
hundred  thousand  in  population.  In  twenty  years  more, 
Jack,  we  will  have  peace,  railroads,  and  two  million 
people.  But  one  thing  can  stop  it.  That  would  be 
a  cowardly  war  on  Mexico!  Why  do  we  need  to 
attack  a  weaker  republic?  The  North  will  frown 
down  a  needless  Mexican  war.  General  Grant's 
immortal  phrase,  'Let  us  have  peace,'  is  the  new 
gospel.  I  believe  him  as  wise  in  the  days  of  calm  as 


228  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

he  was  brave  in  war  and  generous  in  victory.  I  only 
hope  he  can  rule  himself!  " 

"  What  do  you  mean?"  said  Manson  astonished. 

"  There  are  fools  already  plotting,  in  view  of  Grant's 
triumphal  re-election,  to  tempt  him  to  a  third  term,  a 
military  regency  over  the  United  States  and  conquered 
Mexico.  The  unemployed  Northern  floating  veterans, 
and  the  yet  unreconciled  Southern  soldiery  would 
tender  him  the  crown  of  Mexico  on  their  bloody  bayo- 
nets. But  not  till  the  last  armed  Mexican  went  down. 
They  have  learned  modern  warfare  thoroughly  in 
whipping  the  French." 

"  You  dream,  Colonel  Bayard,"  said  Jack  indignantly. 
"Grant's  pure  citizen-bred  greatness  is  above  any  such 
crime!  And  the  spotless  integrity  of  William  Tecum- 
seh  Sherman  would  lead  the  great  General  of  the 
Army  to  hurl  anyone  from  a  dictator's  seat." 

"You  think  that  I  dream,"  Bayard  gravely  said. 
"  Manson,  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  are 
neither  all  dead  nor  supine.  There  is"  even  Northern 
money  and  railroad  kings  behind  the  treasonable  plan." 

Jack  Manson  thought  of  No.  4,  veiled  in  mystery! 
Was  the  great  conqueror  of  Lee  to  be  fed  with  the  ful- 
some flattery  of  a  Caesar? 

While  they  parleyed,  Hodges,  cigar  in  mouth,  blurted 
out:  "  There  goes  your  greaser  spy,  Tom."  Like  an 
arrow  shot  from  a  bow,  Ximenes'  lithe  racer  stretched 
away  over  the  firm  red  wagon  track  till  he  was  a  mere 
blur  on  the  rolling  prairie. 

"  You  or  I  will  have  to  kill  that  fellow  some  day  in 
Leavenworth's  interest,"  the  old  planter  growled. 

"I  resign  in  your  favor,  Colonel,"  said  Bayard 
politely.  «'  I  have  other  thoughts!"  So  he  had.  Alice 
Leavenworth's  brown  eyes  were  daily  tempting  him 
to  a  quiet  home  by  the  shady  banks  of  the  beautiful 


FOR     LIFF.    AND     LoVH.  22O, 

r-siieces.  Far  before  them  roiled  the  great  swelling 
prairies.  In  its  hollows  the  grass  v/as  already  rich. 
The  fringe  of  trees  behind  them  dwindled  to  a  dark 
line.  A  fresh  breeze  moved  the  pure  prairie  air. 
Distant  bands  of  deer  raced  away  in  elastic  strides, 
yellow  antelope  danced  away,  flickering  patches  of 
light  against  the  green,  and  the  stray  horses  and  cattle 
increased  in  number.  It  was  the  glorious  prairie  ocean 
of  America! 

"  What  a  land!  "  Bayard  proudly  said.  "  Spaniard, 
Englishman,  Frenchman,  Mexican,  the  Indians,  Ger- 
man colonists,  and  all  have  given  way  to  us.  The 
'  New  Philippines,'  Spain  called  it — LaSalle's  old 
rusty  guns  still  lie  honeycombed  at  Matagorda.  But 
the  Bourbons  lost  it.  This  shall  be  the  home  of  the 
planter,  the  farmer,  the  miner.  Manson,  I  have  ridden 
over  Texas  from  border  to  border.  It  is  an  empire. 
The  east  will  give  us  cotton  and  sugar;  the  middle  and 
north  ship-timber,  general  farm  product?,  iron  ores,  and 
coal;  the  west,  cattle,  sheep,  and  horses,  in  millions. 
Across  these  plains  the  entire  Mexican  trade  will  roll 
on  steel  rails  not  yet  made." 

"  You  paint  a  rosy  future,"  said  Manson,  whose  eyes 
followed  the  spy.  Why  had  he  ridden  on  in  front? 
Jimmy's  letter  said : 

Watch  Ximenes;  keep  him  well  out  of  ear-shot.  We  must 
trap  that  scoundrel.  I  wish  to  get  rid  of  him. 

"  Will  timber  grow  here?  "  said  Manson, his  eye  rov- 
ing over  the  plains. 

"  There  is  unfailing  water  twenty-five  feet  below  the 
plains.  Small  settlers  will  raise  an  abundance  of  trees," 
Bayard  said.  "We  have  scattered  forests  of  oak, 
cypress,  pecan,  cedar,  ash,  walnut,  hickory,  and  pine, 
with  the  alluvial  trees.  We  have  coal,  silver,  lead, 


230  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

iron,  marble,  and  other  minerals.  No  man  yet  has 
even  skinned  over  the  unused  treasures  of  the  State. 
We  need  good  people  only." 

"  Your  border  unrest  must  cease  first,"  replied  Jack. 

"  Then  give  us  peace  and  railroads,  with  American 
shipping,  then  Texas  can  feed  the  world ! " 

The  young  engineer  smiled  as  Bayard  broke  his  team 
into  a  changing  run.  He  little  dreamed  that  twenty 
years  would  more  than  verify  the  boasts  of  the  ranchero. 
But  time  has  worked  all  these  wonders!  The  out- 
lines of  a  heavy  wooded  arroyo  loomed  up  by  noon. 

"  There's  a  nice  spring  in  this  canon.  We'll  lunch 
nown  there,"  said  Bayard,  as  he  drove  down  into  a 
dense  wood,  sunk  two  hundred  feet  below  the  plain. 
"Here's  where  they  attacked  old  Si."  He  started  as  he 
spoke,  for  the  shrill  neigh  of  a  horse  broke  the  silence. 

Hodges  threw  up  his  heavy  rifle ;  his  eyes  were  lit  up 
with  eagerness.  • 

"  Pshaw,  only  a  stray  mustang !  "  said  Bayard,  driving 
merrily  along. 

There  would  have  been  a  rain  of  bullets  poured  on 
the  unsuspecting  travellers,  if  Ximenes,  hidden  in  the 
bushes,  had  not  restrained  "  Caballo  Blanco."  For 
twenty  murderers  awaited  the  chief's  signal  near  them 
in  hiding! 

"He  said:  '  Don't  kill  him  unless  alone.'  You  see 
Bayard  and  Hodges'  death  would  bring  out  every 
Texan,"  the  hidden  spy  whispered,  as  the  team  dashed 
out  of  hearing.  "  I  only  want  you  and  your  men  to 
mark  that  face.  The  big  Gringo — the  young  fellow. 
After  this,  kill  him  whenever  you  get  him  alone! 
Five  thousand  dollars  is  '  El  Jaguar's '  price  to  the  man 
who  does  it.  He  will  come  back  in  a  week  or  so. 
He's  going  out  with  the  old  man's  boy  to  see  the 
border.  After  he  leaves  San  Miguel  kill  him,  but 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  231 

not  before.  If  at  night,  make  sure  of  every  one  with 
him.  Now  scatter!  I  will  ride  up  the  arroyo  and  get 
in  to  San  Miguel  first.  You  can  cross  lower  down 
and  get  over  to  the  South." 

"  I  hardly  like  this  place.  Too  much  cover.  Many 
a  man  has  been  killed  here,"  said  Hodges,  as  he  lay  at 
rest  on  a  scrape,  after  the  noon  halt  in  the  deep  canon. 
The  mules,  with  a  good  roll  while  unharnessed, 
freshened  up  in  the  shade. 

"  Pooh,  not  a  bit  of  danger  now,"  said  the  fearless 
Bayard,  and,  even  as  he  spoke,  the  black  rascals  in  hid- 
ing were  begging  "  Caballo  Blanco  "  to  let  them  wipe 
out  the  party  of  five. 

"  Madre  de  Dios!  Fools!  It's  easy  enough  to  kill 
them.  I  want  the  money,"  said  the  bandit  leader,  a 
coarse-looking  young  Mexican  of  thirty.  "  But,  Maxan 
must  be  obeyed.  You  see  it  might  get  him  in  trouble." 

So  the  human  bloodhounds  slunk  away  in  the  coppice. 

It  was  four  o'clock  when  Jack  Manson  said,  looking 
at  the  sinking  sun,  as  the  team  trotted  briskly  along, 
"  When' do  we  reach  the  Rancho  San  Miguel  line?" 

"  You've  been  on  old  Si's  land  for  an  hour,"  answered 
Bayard.  "A  few  thousand  acres  near  the  '  home  place  ' 
arc  lightly  fenced,  but  the  tract  is  not  closed  in." 

"  How  large  is  it?  "  said  Jack  in  wonder. 

"  Three  hundred  and  forty  thousand  acres  in  four 
counties,  with  seventeen  lakes  and  ponds,  one  river,  and 
about  two  hundred  thousand  more  acres  of  pasture 
which  no  one  will  ever  take  up  for  twenty  years," 
simply  said  Bayard. 

"Why  not?  "  questioned  Jack. 

"Old  Si  has  located  and  fenced  and  paid  for  every 
pond,  spring,  and  water-hole,  so  the  land  is  under  his 
control,"  Bayard  replied,  beaming  in  admiration  of  the 
frontier  king's  slyness. 


232  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

"How  could  he  do  that?"  Jack  eagerly  said. 

"  There  are  no  United  States  land  surveys  in  Texas. 
Don't  forget  we  were  annexed  as  a  sovereignty.  None 
of  your  factory-made  States,"  laughed  Bayard.  "  Major 
Blucher.  made  the  surveys,  and  Nordenskiold  got  the 
land  patents." 

"So  money  does  wonders,  even  in  Texas,"  remarked 
Manson,  quite  enlightened. 

"Yes;  just  as  wit  and  hard  cash  do  everywhere,"' 
Bayard  replied,  with  a  resigned  smile,  as  the  glories  of 
the  three  children's  heritage  \vere  revealed. 

"  Leaven  worth  has  nearly  three  hundred  thousand 
cattle,  sheep,  horses,  and  mules  on  this  range,  and  there 
are  two  hundred  men  riding  it  always.  It's  a  great, 
a  princely  estate,"  Bayard  said. 

"Do  they  live  wellr"  measuredly  queried  Jack. 

"With  the  easy  simplicity  of  wealthy  Southern 
families,"  his  friend  answered.  "And  now,  Mr.  Jack 
Manson,  I  can  give  you  a  sight  of  the  house." 

Manson's  heart  beat  high  as  he  discerned  toward  the 
west  a  rich  fringe  of  varied  trees.  On  a  raised  pla- 
teau, fifty  feet  above  the  plain,  was  a  huge  masonry 
square  keep,  three  stories  high.  And,  at  some  little 
distance,  a  great,  roomy  Southern  planter's  home  rose 
from  bowered  gardens,  and  in  the  rear  an  extensive 
series  of  offices,  with  immense  stacks  of  prairie  hay, 
rising  unhoused  toward  the  blue  skies.  Down  into  a 
rich  valley,  Bayard  lashed  the  team,  for  several  riders 
were  cantering  along  the  slope  below  to  meet  them. 
Manson  schooled  himself  to  the  conventional,  as  a  beau- 
tiful chestnut  Kentucky  thoroughbred  raced  up,  bearing 
proudly  the  little  queen  of  San  Miguel. 

"That's  two  dozen  gloves,  Brother  Jimmy,"  remarked 
the  glowing  Amazon,  as  Leavenworth's  eocrel  blood- 
horse  bounded  up,  a  few  lengths  behind. 


FOR    LIFE     AND    LOVE.  233 

With  a  silent  greeting  of  her  dancing  eyes,  Katie 
leaned  over  her  saddle  as  Jack  Manson  touched  the 
tips  of  her  fingers.  The  little  hands  were  gauntleted, 
but  Manson  could  have  pressed  them  to  his  lips  in  secret 

joy. 

"Welcome  to  San  Miguel!  You  are  now  my  pris- 
oner, sir!"  laughed  the  fair  one  with  the  golden  locks. 

Colonel  Bayard's  deep  voice  was  murmuring  to 
brown-eyed  Alice,  whose  dignity  of  bearing  in  the 
saddle  was  regal.  Under  this  fairy  escort,  the  party 
swept  up  to  the  twelve-foot  porch,  where  the  redoubt- 
able master  of  San  Miguel  waited  to  greet  his  guest. 

"I  am  glad  to  see  you,"  said  Silas  Leavenworth, 
scanning  Mr.  Jack  Manson's  handsome  proportions. 
"How  is  your  uncle?  You  must  make  this  your  home 
and  feel  it  such.  I  leave  the  details  to  Jim.  My 
wife,  sir,"  said  the  old  borderer. 

"  Mother,  here's  our  young  friend  Mr.  Manson.  I 
shall  hold  you  and  the  girls  responsible  if  he  does  not 
like  San  Miguel." 

Jack's  heart  went  out  at  once  to  the  quiet,  thoughtful- 
faced  woman,  whose  gentle  greeting  charmed  him.  Her 
modest  dress,  smooth  brown  hair,  with  its  few  silver 
threads,  and  slightly  apprehensive  eyes,  denoted  the 
unobtrusive  and  beloved  Southern  woman  of  position. 

Eager  blacks  swooped  down  upon  the  wagons,  and, 
while  Hodges  and  Silas  Leavenworth  fell  into  a  chat, 
Jack  Manson's  eyes  drank  in  the  beauties  of  the  lovely 
scene.  From  grove  and  copse  the  song  of  birds  rose, 
and  far  and  near,  in  countless  number,  great  flocks  and 
herds  dotted  the  plain.  The  flowers  of  my  lady's  garden 
were  a  token  of  home's  graceful  employments;  corn- 
fields and  gardens  stretched  far  beyond.  With  surprise 
Manson  noted  the  absence  of  orchards  and  many  other 
usual  farming  features. 


234 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE 


"We  Texans  only  raise  wild  cattle,  sheep,  and  horses," 
laughed  old  Silas.  "  We're  not '  gentlemen  farmers'! 
We  even  get  our  general  supplies  from  New  Orleans. 
Our  people  are  so  lazy,  but  farm  produce  should  grow 
here  like  in  the  Garden  of  Eden.  You  will  see  many 
things  to  astonish  you,  my  young  friend.  Sometimes 
we  have  hardly  any  milk  or  cream."  Even  the  placid 
mother  joined  in  the  general  laugh. 

"  But  you  always  have  horses  to  ride"  replied 
Manson. 

"  Yes,  if  one  can  stay  on  them,  or  the  Mexicans  and 
Comanches  don't  steal  them,"  answered  the  ranchero, 
with  a  grim  touch  of  humor. 

Manson  gazed  in  surprise  at  the  quiet-mannered, 
compact,  medium-sized  man  in  plain  dress  who  ruled 
this  domain.  A  steel-gray  eye,  a  slow,  deliberate 
speech,  a  furtive,  repressed  activity  of  movement,  and  a 
mouth  as  stern  as  a  Casar,  marked  the  hero  of  a  hun- 
dred desperate  adventures.  His  eyes  were  seldom 
lightened,  and  his  smile  was  as  wintry  as  the  gleam  of 
the  blue  pole-star  on  the  lonely  Arctic  seas,  where 
eternal  silence  is  king. 

"  To-night  you  and  I  and  Nordenskiold  can  have  a 
chat.  He's  working  up  our  papers.  It  will  take  him 
a  few  days.  In  the  mean  time  Jim  can  show  you  the 
ranch  and  you  can  look  into  our  quiet  ways  of  killing 
time  out  here." 

Old  Silas  never  hurried,  but  his  eagle  eye,  reten- 
tive brain,  and  lynx-like  ear  never  missed  in  their 
secret  activity.  Already,  in  his  stern  presence,  Manson 
felt  a  steel  spring  bearing  down  on  him  with  .steady 
pressure.  He  eagerly  embraced  Katie's  invitation  to 
join  her  mother  and  inspect  the  "  Castle  Dangerous,"  as 
she  laughingly  termed  her  home  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
wild  border.  Colonel  Bayard  and  Alice  were  walking 


KOR    J.1FE    AND    I.OVE.  235 

in  the  rose  alleys,  and  Jack  failed  not  to  notice  Silas 
Leavenworth's  eye  following  the  stalwart  Confederate. 

"  His  future  is  safe.  Mine  is  in  my  own  hands  now," 
he  thought,  as  he  walked  over  the  threshold  of  the 
great  low  Southern  house. 

It  was  a  tender  flash  from  heaven's  own  sunlight,  the 
glance  of  Katie's  eyes  as  she  turned  and  silently  bade  him 
welcome.  The  gentle  dissembler  had  not  yet  dared  to 
breathe  her  momentous  secret  to  the  dear  mother  by  her 
side,  but  a  dangerous  loving  glance  made  her  eyes  tell- 
tale blue  jewels  of  the  soft  evening.  Jack  started  in 
surprise  as  he  gazed  around  the  ranchero's  home.  For, 
not  even  Mark  Manson's  palace  was  more  superbly 
adorned.  Unpretentious  in  its  exterior,  the  great  low 
plantation  house  was  a  very  dream  of  refined  luxury. 

"  It  is  evident  that  the  ladies  rule  within  these  walls," 
was  the  stranger's  comment,  as  he  passed  up  the  great 
hall,  through  a  forest  of  the  trophies  of  the  chase. 
Strange  robes  and  skins  covered  the  polished  floor,  and 
heads  of  unfamiliar  beasts  grinned  from  the  walls. 
The  "  Big  Horn,"  superb  elk  and  deer  antlers,  antelope, 
spikes,  great  bison  heads,  and  the  open-jawed  trophies 
of  bear,  panther,  jaguar,  wolf,  and  cat  surrounded  him. 

"  Products  of  the  country  ?  "  said  Manson,  smiling,  as 
his  chum  led  him  up  the  stairs  to  his  rooms,  where  one 
of  eight  guest  chambers  was  allotted  to  him. 

"  Yes,"  cried  Jim  gaily.  "  You  can  shoot  a  buck 
in  our  cornfield  any  day.  Wild  turkeys,  by  the  drove, 
wander  in  our  home  woods,  and  bird  and  beast  without 
end.  I  will  give  you  object  lessons  in  our  woodcraft, 
but  first  I  must  get  you  up  a  real  Texan  outfit.  This 
is  your  boy  while  you  are  here.  I  picked  him  out. 
He  was  my  own  boy  before  Abraham  Lincoln  finished 
slavery  with  an  immortal  pen-stroke.  Strange  that 
both  the  President  and  Czar  Alexander  II.  of  Russia 


236  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

met  a  violent  death  at  the  hands  of  the  assassin.  The 
world's  thanks  for  freeing  serf  and  slave!  Bob  is  a 
good  plainsman;  he  knows  every  inch  of  the  border. 
I  can't  give  him  to  you,  /  could  have  done  so  once  / 
but  I  will  lend  him  till  further  orders,"  said  the  hos- 
pitable Texan.  "Give  him  all  your  keys,  Jack;  he 
will  fix  you  up.  This  is  your  headquarters  now." 

The  smart  colored  lad  grinned  at  his  master's  com- 
mendation. Maxan  nervously  hastened  his  simple  toilet. 

"  Let  me  show  you  our  own  special  corners,"  Katie 
said  as  Manson  descended  the  stairway.  Under  her 
guidance  the  glories  of  the  home  place  were  explored. 
On  all  sides,  every  adjunct  of  wealth  and  taste — 
books,  rare  pictures,  and  the  thousand. and-one  evi- 
dences of  woman's  sway.  A  foreign  air  marked  the 
general  decoration  and  furnishing. 

"  We  had  everything  brought  in  by  the  blockade 
runners  in  war  time,"  Katie  merrily  said.  "  Our . 
French  and  English  agents  sent  out  commissioners  to 
Bagdad,  and  from  the  Rio  Grande  our  own  teams 
brought  the  goods  in.  I  am  told  that  the  old  Mexi- 
can families  have  their  haciendas  royally  adorned. 
You  can  get  anything  in  Matamoras,  through  the 
Zona  Libre.  But  I  must  show  you  my  curios  some 
day.  See!  we  are  quite  antiquarians."  In  cases,  in  the 
great  rooms,  were  countless  treasures  picked  up  in 
the  Rio  Grande  Valley — Mexican  silverware,  orna- 
ments, and  pottery;  superb  embroidery,  and  knightly 
saddle-gear;  minerals,  Aztec  relics,  rare  carvings; 
Indian  spoils  in  endless  profusion,  and  an  extensive 
collection  of  weapons,  personal  ornaments,  and  masses 
of  old  books,  religious  ornaments,  and  costly  vessels. 

Manson's  frankly  expressed  surprise  was  great  at 
beholding  such  treasures! 

"  You  don't  know   how  many  friends  I  have.     All 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  237 

our  people  bring  me  queer  things,  from  the  city  of 
Mexico  to  Mazatlan,  and  from  the  Zuni  Villages  to 
the  Staked  Plains.  Dear  old  Major  Blucher  saved  all 
the  rare  books  and  goods  you  see  when  the  furious 
Mexicans  dismantled  the  churches,  monasteries,  and 
convents.  He  gives  me  all  that  he  can  find.  Mr. 
Nordenskiold  knows  everything — he  is  so  learned — 
and  he  helps  me  arrange  them,  and  so  do  Alice  and 
mother.  This  is  my  '  curiosity  shop'.  I  have  a  real 
Watteau  fan,  given  by  the  Empress  Carlotta  to  Prince- 
Salm-Salm's  wife.  There  is  one  of  the  ten  gold 
pieces  which  brave  Maximilian  gave  to  each  of  the 
firing  party ;  a  Mexican  general  gave  it  to  me.  But  I 
wont  tire  you  further  to-day.  There  is  the  dinner- 
bell." 

Preceded  by  the  master  of  San  Miguel,  the  familv, 
through  a  covered  corridor,  walked  out  to  a  long  dining- 
hall  (a  separate  house),  similarly  connected  with  a 
long  servants'  department.  At  the  patriarchal  table 
the  grave  lawyer  was  already  seated,  with  a  ferret-eyed 
man  of  years,  whom  Manson  knew  as  Mr.  Rudolf 
Harbeck,  the  silent  accountant.  By  his  side  a  bronzed, 
fearless-looking  man  sat.  Hiram  Elam  was  the  right 
hand  of  the  chief,  and  ranch  foreman.  Devoid  of 
ostentation,  the  table  was  yet  worthv  of  a  noble.  The 
wines  and  service  were  faultless.  Mrs.  Leavenworth 
silently  directed,  as  old  Silas  never  appeared  personally 
in  matters  large  or  small.  But  his  slightest  wish  was 
instantly  executed! 

Jack  ventured  to  compliment  the  ranchero  upon  the 
cuisine. 

"  Old  Ned  is  the  best  cook  in  Texas.  He  directed 
the  establishment  of  the  Bishop  of  St.  Louis  until  he 
became  too  haughty.  I  bought  him  before  the  war, 
and  thus  saved  him  from  flourishing  a  hoe  on  the 


238  FOR    LIFE    AND    I-OVE. 

Red  River.  He  was  too  saucy  for  the  good  Bishop ! 
I  have  to  touch  him  up  a  little  myself  now  and  then. 
He  samples  my  best  cigars  and  wines,  and  he  is  a  rare 
old  scoundrel.  I  put  up  with  him,  for,  smart  as  he  is, 
he  can  not  believe  yet  that  he  is  free,  and  he  fills  the 
place  admirably.  My  wife  and  the  girls  are  a  little 
too  kind  to  him,  that's  all,"  said  the  autocrat,  as  he 
glanced  with  almost  a  loving  look  at  the  poor  clergy- 
man's daughter  who  had  been  the  blessing  of  his 
life.  Rude,  and  wholly  wrapped  up  in  his  schemes, 
Silas  Leavenworth  still  was  truly  devoted  to  the  modest 
woman  who  had  given  to  him  the  children  of  his  heart. 
Generals,  diplomats,  foreigners,  army  officers,  rich 
traders,  explorers,  judges,  and  governors  thronged  his 
board,  and  none  failed  to  admire  the  simple  elegance 
of  the  Lady  of  San  Miguel.  The  nearest  neighbor 
was  forty  miles  away,  and  rich  and  poor,  with  beast 
and  burden,  were  sheltered  within  the  open  gates  of 
San  Miguel.  Repayment  was  sternly  refused,  and  a 
bachelor's  den  of  a  dozen  rooms  adjoined  the  great 
masonry  fortress  and  store-house,  where  Leavenworth 
kept  a  year's  supply  of  outfitting  for  two  hundred  men. 
Over  this,  Harbeck  and  the  ranch  superintendent  pre- 
sided, with  a  corral  master  to  watch  the  coming  and 
going  of  wayfarers.  No  one  ever  crossed  the  invisible 
line  drawn  around  the  "  home  place,"  as  it  was  simply 
called,  unless  bidden,  and  twenty  messengers,  Cowboys, 
and  Vaqueros  lounged  within  the  great  door-yard  of  the 
"  Ranch  House,"  as  the  depot  building  was  termed. 
From  its  roof,  fifty  miles  of  prairie  could  be  swept  by 
telescope,  and  behind  its  barricaded  doors,  with  the 
arsenal  within,  Silas  Leavenworth  could  withstand  any 
attack  unsupported  by  field-pieces.  The  alarm-bell  at 
any  moment  would  bring  a  hundred  men,  Winchesters 
in  hand,  to  the  bidding  of  the  grim  chief  of  San 


AND    LOVE. 


239 


Miguel.  Not  a  man,  save  the  house  servants,  but 
curried  his  Colt's  frontier  and  belt  of  copper  cartridges 
on  his  person.  Under  the  long  sheds,  fleet  prairie 
steeds  stood  saddled  day  and  night  in  uneasy  squads. 

"  To-morrow,  Jimmy  will  show  you  over  the  ranch  a 
little.  The  girls  can  drive  you  around,  but  I  don't 
fancy  them  going  too  far  away.  There's  a  dozen 
rattlesnakes  to  every  acre  and  the  woods  are  too 
near.  Some  bad  men  might  be  loafing  around  us. 
We've  got  a  few  panthers  also  who  drop  in  and  pick 
up  lambs  and  calves  now  and  then.  They  are  ugly 
devils  and  extremely  fond  of  my  blood  colts.  They 
pick  out  the  very  best." 

When  Mrs.  Leavenworth  rose,  after  a  quiet  glance 
at  the  i  ooms,  Silas  led  the  way,  followed  only  by  Nor- 
denskiold  and  Manson,  to  a  small  brick  building  detached 
from  the  main  house.  As  the  sisters  sought  'he  broad 
portico  of  the  mansion,  Katie  cast  one  wistful  glance  at 
her  father. 

"  Remember  that  we  are  to  have  some  music,  padre! 
Don't  be  too  late."  The  border  chief  smiled  as  he 
opened  the  door  with  a  private  key.  The  visitor  looked 
around  in  surprise.  The  room  was  but  twenty  feet 
square.  Its  thick  walls  were  each  broken  by  but  a  single 
window ;  the  sills  were  laid  breast  high  from  a  high 
knoll,  wherefrom  the  whole  surrounding  country  was 
visible.  Heavy  iron  shutters  and  a  folding  iron  inside 
door  matched  the  ponderous  safe  against  the  farther 
wall.  A  large  square  table,  built  with  drawers  on  all 
sides,  gave  seating-room  for  eight.  Besides  a  strong 
couch  and  several  easy  chairs,  the  only  other  decorations 
were  racks  of  a  dozen  Winchesters,  Spencers,  and  heavy 
Springfield  riflesy  with  several  rows  of  revolvers.  The 
whole  appearance  justified  its  title,  "  The  Den,"  for 
spite  of  the  cheerful  lamps,  the  room  looked  like  an 
incipient  fortress  or  a  prison  guard-room. 


240  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"Sit  down;  I'll  get  some  cigars,"  curtly  said  Silas, 
as  he  disappeared  toward  the  mansion.  Decorations 
there  were  none,  save  in  a  glass  case  on  the  wall 
a  tattered  Confederate  flag,  shot-torn  and  ragged.  Its 
faded  silk,  its  blended  stars  and  bars  bore  the  gilded 
legend, 

"FOURTH    TEXAS    INFANTRY." 

"Ah!"  said  Nordenskiold,  as  Jack  regarded  it  gravely, 
"Colonel  Tom  Bayard  gave  that  to  Miss  Alice.  His 
heart  went  with  it.  It's  all  that  he  brought  back  from 
the  war." 

"  What  are  these?  "  said  Jack,  noticing  three  well- 
polished  bell-pulls  on  the  wall.  The  lawyer  laughed. 

"They  are  'House,'  'Depot,'  'Corral';  old  Silas 
can  summon  fifty  armed  men  in  an  instant  by  touching 
these.  He  has  wires  buried  in  pipes  for  these  simple 
alarms.  The  house  is  similarly  furnished,  with  special 
bell-cords  in  the  rooms.  The  old  wolf  needs  every 
safeguard  here.  He  could  defy  anything  in  this  retreat 
until  his  retainers  would  swarm  in."  As  they  spoke  the 
ranchero  returned. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  we'll  have  a  few  words,"  he 
said,  his  manner  as  alert  as  a  general  at  the  moment  of 
sending  away  his  reserve  on  the  last  charge.  He 
unrolled  his  maps  and  plans. 

'Mr.  Manson,  I  will  leave  it  to  you  to  discuss  the 
purely  engineering  features  of  the  road  with  Norden- 
skiold. I  am  not  competent  to  judge  such  matters. 
But  as  to  what  we  wish  to  do  practically  with  this 
frontier,  it  is  only  the  matter  of  a  few  moments. 
Nordenskiold  has  all  the  plan  of  organization  and  will 
explain  all.  You  can  look  it  over  with  him.  I  would 
like  you  to  ride  over  the  whole  line  of  the  road  with 
Colonel  Bayard  and  my  son.  That  can  be  done  in  ten 
days.  Then,  when  you  have  approved  the  papers  and 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE.  2[T 

plans,  you  can  make  your  suggestions  and  \ve  will 
jointly  endorse  them  and  send  them  on  to  your  uncle. 
Ho  has  already  generally  joined  in  my  plan  of  organ- 
ization, as  well  as  Senator  Steele.  There  are  their 
letters. 

"  Now,  while  you  and  my  son  look  over  the  ranch 
a  little,  I'll  get  your  party  ready,  and  you  will  learn 
more  in  a  trip  to  Laredo  and  Eagle  Pass  than  in  six 
months'  study  alone.  When  you  return,  I  can  give 
you  a  good  assistant  and  draftsman.  He's  a  nice  fellow, 
an  Austrian  engineer  who  came  out  here  for  his  health. 
Poor  fellow!  he  got  a  cross  of  honor  and  a  bullet 
through  his  lungs  at  Solferino.  Harbeck  also  has  a 
good  working  office  and  a  set  of  instruments  here.  We 
have  Brother  Blucher  up  often  to  trim  out  our  lines 
and  lay  off  what  our  land  business  calls  for  here. 
Strange  to  say,  the  old  man  is  as  accurate  as  the  coast 
survey,  and  his  maps  and  drawings  are  the  best  I  ever 
saw.  Even  if  he  does  take  his  'toddy,'  his  mathemat- 
ical brain  seems  unaffected  by  'three-star  Hennessey.' 
I  tried  to  get  some  'four-star'  for  him,  but  that  is 
'above  proof  and  the  edition  is  exhausted!" 

Silas  laughed  and  showed  a  set  of  teeth  as  fine  and 
white  as  a  pra  rie  wolf's. 

"  We  can  look  all  these  things  over  in  a  day  or  so. 
When  can  you  start?" 

"  Whenever  we  are  done.  I've  been  on  the  frontier 
for  years,"  Manson  replied. 

"Good!  That's  the  talk!  Look  over  these  two  let- 
ters and  we  will  join  the  ladies." 

When  old  Silas  swung  the  doors  of  his  prea!  sife  and 
replaced  the  letters,  he  murmured  as  he  turned  out  the 
lights,  "I  like  that  young  fellow's  looks.  There  is 
some  snap  and  life  in  him." 

Jack  Manson,  entering  the  parlors,  would  have  been 


242  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

glad  to  know  that  his  few  answers  and  comments  had 
satisfied  Silas. 

"  A  practical  and  experienced  young  fellow.  He  will 
be  decent  company  for  Jim,"  thought  the  millionaire 
ranchero,  as  he  glanced  around  his  lordly  possessions 
in  the  mellow  moonlight. 

"I'm  late!  Must  be  late!"  said  Manson  next  morn- 
ing, when  he  was  awakened  by  a  babel  of  cries.  He 
laughed  as  he  threw  open  his  windows,  for  the  morning 
sun  was  but  peeping  over  the  prairie.  Already  pacing 
the  lawn,  Silas  Leavenworth  was  in  conference  with 
his  superintendent.  His  morning  coffee  and  cigar  were 
already  dispatched. 

"  If  we  were  bound  for  the  prairie  we  would  be 
already  miles  away,"  Jim  gaily  said,  as  he  joined  him. 
"  We  will  take  only  a  social  breakfast  to-day  and  ride 
over  the  home  place.  To-morrow  I  will  show  you  our 
outlying  camps.  We  can  ride  far  enough  to  get  a 
good  view  of  our  topographical  surroundings.  There's 
one  bluff  which  gives  a  great  prospect.  A  bit  of  hunt- 
ing may  fall  in  our  way.  I  want  to  show  you  some 
rough  riding,  roping  horses  and  cattle,  the  '  matanza,' 
and  have  had  a  hundred  horses  got  up  to  pick  out  a 
couple  for  you.  I  have  six  or  eight  kept  up,  but  I  wish 
to  suit  you." 

"How  many  'broken'  animals  do  you  keep  up?" 
said  Jack,  amused. 

"  About  five  hundred.  We  use  up  two  or  three 
hundred  every  year,  and  the  boys  are  always  picking 
out  the  best." 

"And  what  do  you  do  with  the  worst?"  said  Jack,  in 
a  bit  of  raillery. 

"Oh,  sell  them  to  Uncle  Sam  for  the  army!  Any- 
thing goes  for  a  trooper.  We  use  all  our  home-bred 
mules  for  teaming,"  Jimmy  carelessly  answered. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  243 

"And  for  plowing  ?  "  Jack  seriously  queried.  Leaven- 
worth  laughed  loudly. 

"  Texans  don't  plow,  my  boy !  A  dozen  horses  can 
do  all  the  plowing  we  need.  We  live  on  hoofs  and 
horns  here.  We  actually  buy  nearly  all  our  grain." 

In  the  fresh,  magnetic  morning  air,  Jack  Manson 
fairly  started  at  the  beauty  Miss  Katie's  appearance  lent 
to  the  growing  day.  The  subtle  telegraph  of  love  told 
her  that  all  was  well.  For  the  sweet  witch  had  gained 
Alice's  steady  support  in  her  plans  to  lead  her  father 
up  "to  see  things  rightly."  Colonel  Bayard  kindly 
lent  himself  to  a  scheme  to  engross  Silas  the  evening 
before,  as  the  music  of  the  fair  sisters  closed  the  intro- 
duction. Manson  adroitly  laid  gentle  siege  to  the 
affectionate  regard  of  Mrs.  Leavenworth.  Therein, 
Brother  Jim  had  made  the  way  smooth.  He  had  love 
schemes  of  his  own! 

Miss  Katie,  en  Amazone,  was  ready  for  the  ride. 

"I  only  go  with  you,"  she  said  imperiously, "because 
I  am  responsible  for  my  prisoner."  Her  pretty  feet 
peeped  out  from  her  habit,  and  she  was  a  moving 
picture  of  grace  as  she  led  the  way  to  the  early  repast. 

"  Now,  sir,  let  Jimmy  provide  your  accoutrements 
only.  I  have  ordered  my  'Lexington'  saddled.  Brother 
always  said  he  was  too  tall  and  strong  for  me." 

Every  drop  of  Jack's  blood  tingled  as  he  sprang  on 
the  splendid  dark-brown  Kentucky  horse,  who  nibbled 
a  bit  of  sugar  daintily  from  his  mistress'  hand.  *~  The 
white  star  in  the  forehead, keen  eye,  and  delicate  nostrils, 
told  of  the  Blue-Grass  land. 

"  You  are  at  last  a  Texan,"  merrily  cried  Katie,  critic- 
ally regarding  Manson's  dress,  as  he  appeared  fully 
supplied  from  Jimmy's  trappings.  Both  were  armed, 
and  behind  the  party  of  three,  Don  Basilic,  grave,  and 
smoking  a  precarious-looking  papelito,  ambled  along, 


244  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

his  lariat,  pistol-belt,  and  Winchester,  in  its  Comanche 
sheath,  under  his  leg,  giving  a  modern  air  to  the  sad 
countenance  of  the  typical  Don  Quixote. 

With  the  easy  elastic  bounds  of  equine  perfection 
the  three  swept  along.  Jack  was  not  averse  to  display- 
ing before  the  dainty  queen  of  San  Miguel  his  superb 
horsemanship  gained  in  the  wild  buffalo  runs  on  the 
Platte. 

"  You  will  do,  sir ;  you  need  not  remain  in  the  primary 
class"  said  Miss  Leavenworth.  "  You  need  only  pass 
the  thirty-third  degree  of  Texan  '  bronco '  riding ;  you 
are  then  quite  au  fait." 

With  the  woman  he  loved  by  his  side,  in  the  glorious 
morning,  Manson's  exulting  spirits  rose  to  the  zenith. 

"  Ramon  Maxan  may  meet  me  now  with  as  stern  a 
welcome  as  he  cares  to  give !  "  Gazing  on  Katie's  fail- 
face,  he  vowed  himself  to  a  ceaseless  vigilance. 

Crowds  of  lithe,  alert  young  borderers,  with  a  dark 
back-ground  of  half-breeds,  were  moving  in  all  direc- 
tions. Teams  going  afield,  wagon  teams  drawing  out, 
ringing  smith  hammers,  and  all  the  bustle  of  a  fixed 
camp  interested  Manson,  when  he  could  not  use  the 
intervals  of  Jimmy's  side  excursions  to  exchange  a  few 
low,  passionate  words. 

"  Patience,  for  my  sake,"  the  spirited  girl  enjoined. 
"  Remember  my  father's  eagle  eye,  his  unbending 
character." 

The  little  cavalcade  passed  wild  herds  of  spreading- 
horned  cattle,  their  eyes  glowing  fiery  red  in  the 
harassing  charges  of  men  "rounding  them  up."  In 
great  enclosures,  the  duels  of  the  centaur-like  "  lasso  " 
hands  were  living,  changing  tableaux  of  fight  between 
man  and  beast !  Shouts  and  yells  arose  on  the  silence 
of  the  morning.  Bands  of  sleek  mules,  lazily  dusting 
themselves  with  whip-like  tails,  wandered  in  the 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  245 

sunlight.  As  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  horses  and 
cattle  in  piebald  confusion  of  color  covered  hill  and 
knoll.  Far  away  as  they  rode  on,  great  bands  of  sheep 
hobbled  along,  the  gaunt  Mexican  "pastores"  following 
them  with  long  wands.  The  horse  corrals,  where  a 
score  of  swarthy  fellows  were  roping,  blinding,  hob- 
bling, or  chasing  fifty  frantic  "broncos,"  rivalled  the 
very  maddest  rush  of  a  Spanish  bull-fight. 

"  Those  horses  seem  to  have  mingled  quicksilver  and 
fire  in  their  veins,"  cried  Jack,  as  he  watched  one  or  two 
exemplars,  who  had  been  lassoed,  thrown,  their  legs 
tied,  until  with  bandaged  eyes,  they  staggered  under 
the  heavy  saddle,  and  screamed  under  the  first  cruel 
tearing  of  the  "  ring  bit."  When  the  riders,  vaulting 
fearlessly  on  these  equine  demons,  signalled  for  the 
bandage  to  be  slipped,  every  variety  of  rearing,  plung- 
ing, rolling,  and  tremendous  panther-like  bounding  and 
"  bucking "  proved  the  "  original  sin "  embodied  in 
these  wall-eyed,  thin-chested,  vicious  brutes. 

With  an  amused  smile  they  rode  on  to  the  "ma- 
tanza."  A  two-mile  run  brought  the  rich  blood  to 
Katie's  cheeks  as,  her  lover  by  her  side,  she  led  the 
way  on  "  Starlight." 

"  I  could  ride  on  forever  !  Now  I  feel  at  home  again, 
on  my  own  plains."  She  was  peerless  in  her  graces, 
this  Flower  of  the  Border! 

Great  V-shaped  picket-fence  walls  led  out  of  a  huge 
corral  toward  a  long  building,  half-buried  in  a  glen 
where  a  flowing  brook  furnished  water  for  tanks  and  a 
steam  engine.  As  Jack  rode  up,  he  noted  the  easy 
grace,  the  splendid  attitudes  of  the  dozen  riders,  who, 
at  a  signal,  cut  out  bullock  after  bullock  from  the 
bellowing  herd,  as,  game  as  prairie  deer,  they  scented 
the  blood  of  their  fellows  gone  before.  Dashing  for- 
ward and  whipped  on  by  footmen,  a  wild  plunge 


246  FOR    LIFE    AND    I.OVE. 

under  an  overhanging  plank  platform,  led  them  within 
reach  of  two  naked-chested,  half-breed  matadores. 

A  razor-sharp  broad  knife,  set  in  a  long  pole,  with 
unerring  aim,  severed  the  spinal  cord  behind  the  horns, 
as  the  animal  passed  beneath  the  "  killers."  Prone, 
with  a  crash  the  steers  fell,  rolling  down  an  incline, 
within  reach  of  the  hooked  rope  of  a  steam  wind- 
lass. In  an  hour,  hides,  horns,  and  tail  were  added 
to  the  piles,  and  the  tallow  vats  received  the  car- 
casses for  rendering.  The  thoughtless  waste  of  the 
rude  process  struck  Manson. 

"  Oh,  we  only  kill  those  we  can't  drive  North,"  said 
Leavenworth,  carelessly.  "A  few  thousand  culled  out 
never  diminish  our  herd.  There  is  a  rough  system  in 
it  all." 

Away,  through  dell  and  opening,  threading  mes- 
quite  groves,  where  buck  and  doe  bounded  away  in 
jerky  gallop,  past  copses,  where  rushing  flocks  of 
wild  turkey  scattered  in  noisy  confusion,  on  beyond  a 
chain  of  dimpled  lakes,  priceless  here,  the  merry  trio 
sought  the  highest  knoll  in  sight. 

"  It  is  a  royal  domain,"  Jack  Manson  said,  as  from 
his  panting  steed,  his  eye  swept  far  away  to  the  beautiful 
oak  openings  of  the  Nueces,  and  far  down  below  them 
the  glories  of  San  Miguel  lay  unrolled.  To  the  west, 
wooded  ravines  and  arroyos  cut  up  the  prairies,  flecked 
with  thousands  of  grazing  animals.  Far  away  south- 
ward, a  yellow  strip  of  gray,  spotted  with  cactus  groves, 
swept  toward  a  far-winding  dark  band.  It  stretched, 
an  emerald  snake  in  endless  twists,  beneath  the  distant 
beautifully  pencilled  profile  of  the  Monterey  Mountains. 

"They  are  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles  away,"  cried 
Jimmy,  as  he  regarded  his  horse,  "  and  over  there,  within 
those  willow  and  cotton  wood  groves,  cut  up  with 
islands  and  fertile  bends,  the  Rio  Grande  runs.  Between 


FOIl    LIFK    AND    LOVE.  J.j/ 

us  and  it  lie  the  'bad  lands',  and  there  man  and  beast  alike 
lie  in  wait  for  the  lonely  traveller." 

"There's  no  such  fair  land,  720  place  like  Texas!  " 
Katie  positively  decreed,  her  eyes  sparkling  as  she 
flourished  her  riding  whip.  Manson's  glasses,  pocket 
map,  compass,  and  sketch-book  were  soon  in  requisi- 
tion. Seated,  with  the  fair  face  of  the  woman  he 
loved  bending  over  him,  Jack  dashed  in  a  panoramic 
outline. 

In  an  hour,  with  the  sagacious  counsel  of  his  chum  and 
reference  to  the  skeleton  maps,  the  two  comrades  had 
fixed  their  route  of  exploration  and  laid  out  the  young 
engineer's  first  ride  on  the  border. 

"  There's  a  wounded  deer  below  us  there!  Look!" 
said  Katie,  as  a  buck  limped  painfully  along  the 
side-hill,  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  away. 

"  Yes,  and  a  gray  wolf  after  him!  "  added  Manson,  as 
he  picked  up  Leavenworth's  carbine,  and,  quick  as  a 
flash,  fired,  rolling  the  gray  marauder  over  neatly,  with 
a  ball  through  his  shoulders. 

"  Well  done!"  cried  Jimmy.  "  Where  did  you  get  up 
that  snap. shot  practice?" 

"  Out  shooting  for  antelope  and  black-tailed  deer  in  the 
Black  Hills,"  laughed  Jack. 

"Let  me  see!  You  ride  pretty  well,"  Miss  Katie 
began.  "You  can  shoot  a  little!  I  think  you  will  do 
for  the  Rio  Grande,  but  I  must  examine  your  revolver 
shooting.  I  am  hard  to  please." 

Miss  Katie  gracefully  accepted,  on  their  return,  a 
five-spot  of  spades,  which  Manson  neatly  punctured 
with  five  shots  of  his  revolver,  knocking  out  the  pips, 
when  Brother  Jim  took  them  out  to  his  range  to  try 
a  half-dozen  rifles  and  carbines  for  the  flying  visit. 

"  You  are  now  accepted  as  a  candidate  for  the  crown- 
ing honor  of  being  declared,  in  due  form,  a  Texan. 


248  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

But  that  is  only  bestowed  when  you  have  ridden  the 
Rio  Grande.  You  must  do  it  for  my  sake!"  the  heiress 
cried,  happy  in  her  lover's  unsuspected  prowess. 

"  I'll  ride  it,  Miss  Katie,"  Jack  replied,  his  eyes  meet- 
ing hers  meaningly.  "  I  will  cling  to  my  old  Sioux 
trophy  also  '  for  your  sake,'  "  he  thought,  as  he  replaced 
the  weapon  he  had  won  from  a  gallant  Indian  warrior 
in  fair  fight.  "  I  may  not  be  a  Texan  yet,  but  I  think 
I  can  learn"  he  resolutely  exclaimed. 

Three  days  of  conference  enabled  Silas  Leavenworth 
and  Nordenskiold  to  lay  out  the  general  line  of  the 
projected  road,  with  the  aid  of  Jack  Hanson's  practical 
talents.  Jack  was  astonished  at  the  old  ranchero's  sagac- 
ity and  depth  of  mind.  Boundary  survey  maps,  coast 
survey  charts,  State  maps,  sketches,  reports,  projects, 
and  a  mass  of  invaluable  data  were  ready  at  hand. 

"How  could  you  get  all  these  together?"  said  Man- 
son,  in  wonder. 

"  I  know  but  /////£, but  I  know  enough  to  have  compe- 
tent men  around  me,"  said  old  Silas.  "  Senator  Steele, 
Chisholm,  Nordenskiold,  Blucher,  and  the  army  head- 
quarters' people  at  San  Antonio,  give  me  all  the  points. 
All  our  State  surveys  here  are  run  and  tied  on  to  my 
own  lines." 

"  You  should  have  been  an  engineer,  Mr.  Leaven- 
worth  ! "  cried  Manson  in  admiration,  as  their  final  dis- 
cussions ended. 

"  I  began  life  practically;  shovelling  coal  for  the 
steam  engineer  of  a  quartermaster  department  steamer 
in  Florida,  when  I  was  a  workman  attached  to  the 
army.  I  never  got  into  the  'Topographical  Corps,'" 
said  Silas,  with  a  grim  smile.  The  arch-millionaire 
was  certainly  no  snob!  "If  Jimmy  is  ready,  you  can 
run  over  the  line  now  and  sketch  it  out.  Then  we 
will  organize.  We  will  all  slip  down  to  Corpus 
Christi.  We  need  there  all  our  votes." 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  249 

As  Silas  finished  speaking,  an  express  rider  galloped 
up  to  the  door  of  the  den.  His  horse,  flecked  with 
foam,  staggered  as  he  dismounted,  handing  the  million- 
aire a  letter.  "  From  Major  Blucher!"  he  said,  as  he 
waited  Silas'  orders. 

Old  Silas  tore  open  the  envelope.  Leavenworth's 
eye  was  flashing  when  he  pulled  the  depot  bell-handle. 
The  superintendent  dashed  across  the  court-yard  on 
the  run.  "  Hitch  up  your  best  double  buckboard  and 
swiftest  team.  Have  Harbeck  over  here  in  five 
minutes.  He  must  go  to  Corpus  Christi  as  fast  as 
the  animals  can  be  urged.  Send  'Texas  Pete'  and 
'Prairie  Joe' to  escort  him.  Let  Bill  Haley  drive.  I 
may  need  a  few  good  men  down  there.  You  must 
take  good  care  of  this  messenger.  I  will  have  letters 
to  send  down  by  him  to-morrow." 

The  rider  thanked  Silas,  as  the  cattle  king  thrust  a 
Mexican  doubloon  in  his  hand. 

Turning  to  his  friend,  Silas  sharply  said :  "  We  will 
put  off  the  preliminary  examination  of  the  line  for  a 
week.  The  Corpus  Christi  Gazette  has  a  whole  page 
stirring  up  a  wild  opposition  and  attacking  the  Com- 
pany. I  wish  you,  Olaf,  and  Jim  to  take  the  big 
ambulance  and  half  a  dozen  good  men,  and  leave  in 
an  hour  for  the  bay.  I  will  keep  Mr.  Manson  with 
me,  and  we  will  get  there  somehow,"  he  said,  with  a 
peculiar  smile.  Go  all  to  your  own  house;  don't  go 
near  the  hotel,  or  show  up.  Nordenskiold !  get  hold 
of  Blucher;  keep  him  steady,  and  send  out  for  Colonel 
Rip  Ford  and  your  best  men."  Touching  the  house- 
bell,  a  negro  briskly  trotted  over.  "  Send  Mr.  James 
to  me  at  once!"  he  cried. 

No  handsomer  son  ever  stood  before  a  proud  father 
than  the  hero  of  San  Miguel  as  he  dashed  in. 
"What's  up,  padre?" 


250  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

In  two  minutes  Jimmy  had  his  orders:  "Take  six 
picked  men,  Jimmy,  and  be  careful.  By  the  way,  let 
Ximenes  and  a  half-dozen  of  his  fellows  ride  on  ahead 
and  clear  the  road.  Keep  them  all  in  sight.  I'll  take 
Basilio.  Of  course,  Tom  Bayard  goes  with  you.  Get 
away  as  quick  as  you  can,  Nordenskiold,"  Silas  con- 
cluded. "We  must  act  at  once.  We  will  organize  and 
have  a  special  election  at  once,  and  get  a  half-million 
county  bonds  also  to  improve  the  harbor.  These  oppo- 
sition fellows  have  only  waked  me  up!" 

In  half  an  hour,  the  ambulance  dashed  away  over 
the  prairie,  and  Silas  Leaven\vorth,  smiling,  handed 
Jack  the  glass.  "  Pretty  good  gait,"  he  said. 

It  was  a  good  gait!  But  Joaquin  Ximenes,  riding  a 
mile  ahead,  grinned  as  he  knew  the  half-naked  Mex- 
ican boy  he  had  sent  ahead,  racing  along  under  cover 
of  the  straggling  mesquite  groves,  would  reach  Caballo 
Blanco's  camp  first ! 

"  The  old  man  is  going  to  sneak  down  to  town  after 
dark.  I  will  wager  that  the  big  Gringo  comes  with 
him.  If  the  boys  only  shoot  straight,  I'll  earn  Maxan's 
five  thousand  to-night,  and  pay  off  old  Silas  too  for 
many  an  insult — the  old  dog!  If  I  make  sure  of  this 
Jack,  I  will  then  cut  away  and  join  Caballo  Blanco  and 
Maxan." 

When  dusk  drew  down,  and  the  prairies  were  dark- 
ened, Joaquin  Ximenes,  at  the  further  outlet  of  the 
arroyo,  sat  composedly  smoking,  his  double  revolvers 
and  charged  Winchester  ready.  His  noble  horse 
nipped  the  grass,  tossing  at  the  restraint  of  a  twenty- 
foot  picket  rope. 

"I  know  Silas!  the  old  fox!  He  will  dash  along  in  a 
few  hours.  He  always  travels  secretly.  As  Mr.  Jim 
left  me  here  to  warn  them  of  this  wash-out  across  the 
road,  I  can't  be  blamed  if  they  are  attacked  on  the 


FOR    LIFIi     AND    I-OVE.  25! 

other  side  of  the  canon.  It's  a  full  quarter  of  a  mile 
across.  How  lucky  that  last  rain  cut  out  this 
hole.  If  any  one  comes  this  way  I  will  warn  them. 
They  will  have  to  drag  the  wagons  over  by  hand  if 
they  cross.  Caramba!  I'll  surely  see  these  two  dogs 
dead  to-night.  Caballo  Blanco's  party  is  in  position 
now.  The  Gringos  can  not  escape!" 

While  the  gloating  traitor  lay  in  wait,  and  the  con- 
cealed robbers  at  the  head  of  the  glen  on  the  west  side 
awaited  in  ambush,  with  their  animals  at  a  safe  distance, 
the  nimble  lad  who  had  borne  Ximenes'  message  lay. 
waiting  in  the  road  leading  to  San  Miguel  to  warn 
the  murderers,  of  the  approach  of  Silas  Leavenworth's 
flying  double  team. 

.  There  was  solicitude  in  Mrs.  Leavenworth's  kindly 
eyes  as  she  pressed  her  husband's  hands  on  his 
departure. 

"Do  be  careful,  Silas!  I  will  have  no  rest  till  I  know 
you  safe  at  Corpus  Christi." 

"  Don't  fret,  mother.     I'll  show  them  a  Texan  trick." 

"Yes;  but  there  is  that  awful  canon!  It  is  so  danger- 
ous." 

As  husband  and  wife  parted,  Jack  Manson  stole  a 
dozen  kisses  from  Katie's  rosy  lips,  in  a  friendly 
shadow. 

"Do  be  watchful  every  instant!  Standby  father  for 
my  sake,"  she  wrhispered.  "The  robbers  have  vowed 
to  take  his  life." 

"  I'll  die  with  him,  Katie,  beloved,  for  your  own  dear 
sake." 

With  a  last  embrace  Katie  slipped  away,  a  sweet, 
white-faced  apparition. 

"All  ready!"  rang  out  Silas'  voice,  as  two  splendid 
steeds  dashed  up.  A  strong  road-wap^on,  with  a  serv- 
ant's place  behind,  was  provided  with  Winchesters 
and  revolvers  under  every  seat. 


252  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Three  heavy-hearted  women  watched  them  dash 
out  of  the  gate.  There  were  no  lights  to  guide. 
Behind  the  men,  "  Colorado  Bill,"  a  gray-eyed,  lithe 
plainsman,  sat  ready,  his  revolvers  lying  across  his 
knees,  his  rifle  at  his  side. 

Katie's  eyes  were  full  of  blinding  tears  as  she  threw 
herself  fondly  on  her  mother's  breast. 

"  If  anything  should  happen  to  dear  father — and — 
Jack,"  the  little  heiress  murmured. 

Her  gentle  mother  easily  divined  the  maiden's  secret. 
She  knew,  at  last,  what  glowing  inner  heart-love  had 
tinged  the  roses  on  Katie's  cheeks  with  deeper  royal 
richness.  And  in  her  faithful  arms  the  darling  of  her 
heart  told  the  sweet  story  of  a  first  love! 

Jack  started  as  a  dozen  dark  forms  swept  by  the 
travellers,  a  gaunt  rider  before.  Even  in  the  gloom  he 
recognized  that  angular  Castilian,  mediaeval-looking 
relic,  "  Don  Basilio." 

"  That's  only  a  little  Texan  Joke.  I'll  have  Basilio 
go  on  and  prospect  the  canon  a  little,"  said  Silas  dryly, 
as  he  noted  Jack's  movement.  "  Some  of  my  friends 
might  fancy  I  was  really  coming  alone." 

There  was  no  sound  but  the  sighing  of  the  night- 
wind  across  the  lonely  prairie!  Excited  by  his  parting 
promise,  Jack  saw  goblins  of  the  night  in  every  clump 
of  bushes.  His  revolvers  well  to  the  front,  his  Win- 
chester ready,  he  watched  Silas  guide  the  flying  steeds. 
Half-way  to  the  arroyo,  he  spoke:  "  I  wonder  how  you 
can  lead  such  a  life  here  with  vour  family." 

Silas  said  simply:  "  I  like  the  South.  I  like  Texas. 
I  have  a  large  property  here.  I  wish  my  children  to 
be  secure  in  their  future.  I  shed  no  tears  over  the 
fallen  Confederacy.  But  if  your  Northern  friends  think 
that  our  country  will  hold  together  always,  you  are  mis- 
taken. The  natural  interests  of  the  sections  are  opposed 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVK.  253 

to  permanency!  Look  at  it!  You  have  the  Middle 
and  East  given  up  to  capital  and  manufacturing;  the 
Mfssissippi  Valley  to  agriculture ;  the  great  Northwest 
to  timber,  stock,  and  wheat;  the  Pacific  Coast  and 
Rocky-Mountain  States  to  mining.  The  great  money, 
iron,  coal,  and  transportation  banded  interests  prey  on 
the  people.  For  convenience  of  those  who  have 
snapped  up  all  the  valuable  franchises  and  are  rich 
employers,  the  ruling  element  throws  open  the  doors 
of  America,  and  its  too-easily  won  citizenship,  to  the 
ruff  and  scruff  of  Europe.  I  wish  my  children  to  live 
in  a  strong  community,  governed  by  white^  native 
Americans.  We  know  how  to  treat  the  negro  prac- 
tically. You  do  not.  Northern  sentimentalists  always 
fail  to  understand  or  handle  the  black.  In  the  day,  my 
boy,  which  you  may  live  to  see,  of  natural  disintegra- 
tion, the  great  West,  Northwest,  and  Pacific  States  will 
break  away  and  the  East  and  Middle  States  will  stick 
together.  Our  Southern  States,  led  by  pure  American 
statesmen,  will  stand  by  the  Union,  in  a  spirit  of  real 
devotion  to  the  Constitution;  the  Southwest,  from  nat- 
ural sympathy,  will  go  with  them,  and  the  future  battles 
against  communism,  anarchy,  socialism,  and  imported 
pollution  will  be  fought  by  our  representative  South- 
ern men,  who  will  work  up  into  the  national  councils 
again ! 

"  There  is  no  real  devotion  to  the  Union  or  our  home 
institutions  in  a  section  where  the  Dollar  alone  is  God! 
You  are  daily  drained  of  your  heart's  blood  by  the 
enormous  influx  "  of  undesirable  foreigners.  In  fifty 
years  the  American  character  will  only  exist  in  the 
South  and  Southwest*  I  wish  my  son  to  be  a  repre- 
sentative man,  true  to  the  real  Union,  even  if  his  father 
ivas  a  '•rebel''.  No,  sir!  The  war  did  not  decide  the 
fate  of  the  Union,  The  great  battle  is  yet  to  be 


254  FOR  IAVF-  AXD  J-OVE. 

fought.  It  is  against  hostile  Europe;  its  influences, 
its  pauper  classes,  its  rotten  social  schemes,  and  its 
bitter  hatred  of  us!  Your  Northern  people  can  not 
fight  it  alone!" 

Jack  Manson  was  astounded  at  the  depth  of  feeling 
shown  by  the  old  Texan. 

"  Here  I  will  stay!  Here  I  will  leave  my  bones!  "  he 
cried,  as  he  halted  his  steeds  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from 
the  canon.  "  Texas  is  the  future  Empire  of  the  Gulf." 

In  a  moment  Basilio  reined  up  beside  the  wagon. 

"  Here,  Bill,  look  out  for  the  horses.  I'll  change  seats 
with  you,"  Silas  directed. 

Receiving  a  few  whispered  injunctions  in  Spanish, 
old  Basilio  disappeared.  The  ranchero  briefly  gave 
"  Colorado  Bill "  a  last  word  of  advice. 

"If  there's  any  hornet's  nest  in  there  to-night  we'll 
run  over  it,"  sternly  cried  Silas.  "All  ready  no~w  !  Go 
ahead.  Should  there  be  an  alarm,  we  will  keep  on  at 
full  speed.  If  there's  firing,  jump  out  and  join  me 
behind  the  team,"  he  said  to  Jack  in  a  low  tone. 

In  the  darkness  of  the  night  Manson's  relaxed  nerves 
thrilled  as  the  winding  road  to  the  head  of  the  canon 
was  reached.  All  was  silent.  In  the  dense  woods  of 
the  arroyo  a  pair  of  lonely  owls  boomed  out  their 
mournful  call.  Suddenly  Jack  noted  four  of  their  escort 
close  in  at  the  head  of  their  team.  He  gripped  his 
loaded  Winchester  tightly.  Its  seventeen  cartridges 
could  be  flashed  out  in  a  fusillade  of  less  than  a  minute. 

On  the  brow  of  the  hill  at  the  cut,  Basilio  and  his  raw- 
boned  charger  were  revealed  clear-cut  for  an  instant 
against  the  starlit  sky,  backed  by  two  followers.  At  a 
wave  of  Silas  Leavenworth's  hand  they  briskly  dashed 
down  the  slope.  A  wild  figure  darted  away  from 
under  their  very  feet.  It  was  the  boy  spy ! 

"Shoot  quick!"  Silas  yelled,  firing  as  he  spoke. 


BOOK   IV. 
THE  JAGUAR'S  DESPERATE  STRUGGLE. 


CHAPTER  XL 

MANSON'S  MATCHLESS  STEED — A  HARMONIOUS  DIREC- 
TORY— AN  HOUR  IN  A  WASHINGTON  BOUDOIR — A 
STRANGE  WARNING. 

THE  TWO  guns  roared  out  together,  followed  by  a 
snap  shot  from  Bill's  revolver.  Before  a  yell  of  pain 
subsided,  the  thicket  on  the  south  blazed  with  the  dis- 
charge of  twenty  rifles.  A  wild  cry  was  borne  back 
as  the  advance  guard  dashed  through  the  ambush.  The 
four  men  on  the  crest  opened  a  rapid  fire  on  the  low 
bushes. 

"Empty  your  guns!  Fire  low!  Shoot  by  their 
flashes!"  called  Silas,  whose  voice  never  changed  tone. 
The  old  man  was  "game!" 

In  a  few  moments  the  rattling  fire  from  the  ambushed 
bandits  ceased. 

"  That  will  do,"  said  the  ranchero,  shortly,  as  Jack 
dropped  his  heated  gun  from  his  shoulder.  "Cease  fir- 
ing!" he  called  in  Spanish  to  his  faithful  escort,  who, 
with  Sharp's  rifle,  musket,  and  revolver,  were,  from  the 
crest,  sweeping  the  now  silent  wooded  belt  to  the  south. 
"It's  always  safest  after  a  storm,"  Silas  chuckled,  as  he 
blew  the  smoke  out  of  his  repeating  rifle  and  reloaded 
it.  Manson  had  refilled  the  chamber  of  his  rifle. 
"Keep  your  revolver  ready!  Let's  pick  up  this  chap; 


256  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

I  want  him  for  subsequent  investigation"  Silas  coolly 
said.  "Drive  as  near  as  you  can,  Bill."  The  groaning 
fifty  yards  off  continued.  "I  think  thatyott  winged  this 
fellow,  Manson!  You  are  the  right  sort!"  said  Silas, 
revolver  in  hand,  gazing  at  a  prostrate  form.  "Quien 
es?"  sternly  challenged  Silas,  poking  his  revolver  near 
the  face  of  the  wounded  spy.  "Strike  a  match,  Jack! 
Devil  take  it!  It's  that  peon  boy  Jose!  By  God, 
what's  that?" 

Three  or  four  sharp  shots  rang  over  the  canon  from 
the  other  side ;  then  the  echoes  died  away ;  all  was 
ominously  still. 

"Jack,  watch  these  horses ! "  cried  Silas.  «  Bill,  hold  the 
head  of  the  road  with  these  four  men!  Let  them  dis- 
mount and  lie  down.  It  may  be  that  the  thieves  have 
formed  up  again  over  there.  What  will  we  do  with  this 
fellow?  I  see  it.  There's  some  treachery  at  the 
Ranch !  He  sneaked  away  from  us  and  put  up  this  job. 
Standby  on  guard,  Jack!"  Manson  with  joy  noted 
these  familiar  words. 

Jack's  ready  rifle  covered  the  road.  A  horseman 
loomed  up  in  the  darkness,  leading  an  animal. 
It  was  the  unmoved  Don  Basilio,  who,  in  a  few  words, 
reported  to  Silas  Leavenworth,  who  stood  at  bay, 
revolver  in  hand. 

"  Well,  I  will  be  d — d  if  I  don't  hang  every  loose 
'greaser'  between  here  and  the  Rio  Bravo!  Fetch 
the  horse  here.  Jack,"  he  called,  "  come  here."  Basilio 
took  the  impatient  steeds  in  hand. 

"  I  will  now  give  you  the  best  horse  in  Texas,  my 
boy,"  said  Silas,  as  he  handed  him  the  bridle  rein. 
"  You  will  do  me  a  favor  to  shoot  Ximenes  on  sight  if 
you  ever  see  him  again.  The  mean  sneak  put  up  this 
whole  job.  He  fired  on  Basilio's  advance  party  him- 
self! But  they  dropped  him  from  the  saddle.  I  sup- 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  257 

pose  the  felons  ne  posted  here  lugged  him  off  safely! 
He  betrayed  us.  But  why?  " 

Jack  Manson's  heart  beat  wildly.  Then  Silas 
Leavenworth  did  not  know  yet  of  Ramon  Maxan's  vow ! 
Even  in  the  robber's  canon  Katie's  fair  face  beamed 
on  him.  Her  gentle  lips  seemed  to  murmur:  "Stand 
by  my  father  for  my  sake." 

"  This  helps  us,"  said  the  ready  ranchero.  In  five 
minutes  the  wounded  boy  was  lashed  on  the  rear  seat, 
Jack  was  mounted  on  his  royal  charger,  and  the 
unflinching  Basilic  led  the  way  through  the  canon.  A 
trusty  rider  was  already  racing  back  to  San  Miguel  to 
bring  twenty  men  to  hold  the  arroyo  till  after  the  mill- 
ionaire's return. 

"  Search  the  ground  and  lug  all  the  dead  robbers 
back  to  the  ranch.  I  will  get  the  truth  out  of  this  poor 
fool  if  I  have  to  hang  him." 

At  the  farther  brow  of  the  hill  Silas  left  Basilio  on 
guard  with  three  men. 

"  You  will  patrol  the  canon  steadily !  Twenty  men 
will  join  you  here  in  four  hours.  Then  come  on  to 
Corpus  and  report  to  me,  leaving  them  on  guard." 

"  Bueno!"  answered  the  spectral  Don,  as  he  pocketed 
a  handfu.  of  Silas'  best  cigars.  He  was  not  astonished ! 
Xothingtbroke  his  habitual  calm! 

"AW1,  Bill,  turn  her  loose!"  Led  on  by  Jack  Manson 
on  his  matchless  racer,  with  two  riders  as  rear  guard, 
the  undaunted  cattle-king  swept  along  in  safety 
through  the  hushed  night,  to  draw  rein  only  at  Norden- 
skiold's  door  on  the  hill  at  Corpus  Christi. 

"  Not  a  word  of  the  attack ! "  cried  Silas,  as  the  aston- 
ished trio  saw  the  wounded  man.  "  Another  jump  at 
the  old  place!  Don't  let  a  man  go  into  the  town." 

In  a  quarter  of  an  hour  the  old  ranchero  was  sleep- 
ing like  a  child.  "  Texas  Pete,"  and  "Bronco  Bill  "  were 


258  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

merrily  laughing  as  they  rode  away  to  trail  the  robbers 
and  locate  their  headquarters.  They  were  light-hearted, 
for  Silas  growled:  "I'll  give  you  a  ranch  and  stock  it, 
boys,  if  you  will  run  down  this  gang  and  bring  me 
'  Caballo  Blanco's '  head.  Go  where  you  want  to.  You'll 
find  old  Rip  Ford  and  the  rangers  somewhere  between 
Eagle  Pass  and  Ringgold.  Take  some  of  the  men 
from  the  canon,  and  get  what  supplies  you  want  any- 
where. I'll  square  the  bill.  Don't  spare  money  or 
horseflesh!" 

"All  right,  squire,"  the  happy  scouts  answered,  as  if 
they  were  bidden  to  a  picnic. 

By  the  dying  fire,  in  Nordenskiold's  snuggery,  Tom 
Bayard,  Jimmy,  and  the  new  Texan  communed 
briefly.  Nordenskiold  listened  in  silence. 

"  We  must  have  this  Ramon  Maxan  and  Ximenes 
shovelled  under,  before  you  and  I  can  ride  the  border 
safely.  A  Creole  always  keeps  his  oath  of  blood 
revenge,"  said  the  sturdy  son  of  a  dauntless  sire,  as 
Jack  Manson  sought  his  couch.  "  You  have  won  the 
best  horse  in  Texas,  anyway.  Good-night,  old  boy. 
The  'padre  '  tells  me  you  fitted  the  situation  to  a  hair! 
It's  a  good  deal  for  him  to  say." 

There  were  lovely  eyes  beaming  on  the  sleeper  from 
misty  dreamland,  and  Jack  saw  the  sunlight  of  the 
future  from  behind  these  clouds! 

Silas  Leavenworth  was  quietly  comparing  notes  with 
the  stony-faced  lawyer  when  Manson  was  awakened  by 
the  sun  peeping  over  Padre  Island.  He  rubbed  his  eyes. 

"  Well !  a  night  on  the  prairie  may  be  followed  up 
by  a  wild  day  at  Corpus  Christi.  It  is  a  lively  country." 

His  first  care  was  to  go  to  the  stable  and  look  at  his 
beautiful  trophy  of  the  fight  at  the  arroyo.  Jimmy, 
in  low  tones,  at  the  breakfast-table  run  over  the  details 
of  the  abortive  attempt  at  murder. 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE.  259 

"  They  must  have  'laid'  for  you  and  father!  Now, 
Jack,  you  know  why  we  have  not  fully  warned  my 
father  before.  We  must  do  so  now,  but  he  would  have 
found  out,  anyway,  the  reason  of  Maxan's  enmity." 

The  "we"  was  evidently  Katie  and  her  brother. 
The  two  lovers  clasped  hands  in  silence.  Jimmy  was 
thinking  of  that  beloved  one  far  away  in  her  ancient 
Virginia  home. 

"When  we  get  back,  you  and  I,  with  mother  and 
my  sisters,  will  have  a  private  understanding.  I  see 
clearly  that  we  must  hunt  these  fellows  down  and  not 
let  them  'pot'  us,  like  a  couple  of  prairie  chickens. 
But  I  do  not  wish  to  arouse  my  father's  ferocity.  He 
will  hang  every  suspected  wanderer  for  six  months. 
He  is  no  man  to  fool  with." 

"  I  should  say  not,"  said  Jack,  dryly,  as  he  thought 
of  old  Silas  pumping  out  his  Winchester  cartridges  as 
deliberately  as  if  firing  at  ground-squirrels. 

"Don't  show  off  your  new  'caballo^  yet,  young 
man,"  said  Silas,  good-humoredly,  as  he  shook  hands; 
*'  I  am  keeping  this  whole  thing  quiet.  My  men  are  on 
the  trail  now,  and  I  never  admit  these  attempts  on  my 
life  here;  it  might  encourage  others.  Besides,  they  may 
have  Mexican  chums  here  to  warn  them.  Now,  be  at 
hand  all  day;  I  will  need  your  professional  advice.  I 
have  sent  for  the  editor  of  the  Gazette.  I  will  have  a 
special  edition  of  the  paper  printed  to-night.  To-mor- 
row it  will  go  fifty  miles  around.  We  will  organize 
to-morrow  morning,  and  to-morrow  night  a  grand  public 
meeting  will  make  them  all  wake  up.  I  will  make 
these  three  counties  too  hot  to  hold  any  one  who  fights 
the  road  or  the  Company." 

"We  will  have  a  full  through  mail  to-day, Jack," 
remarked  Jimmy,  glass  ^in  hand.  "  There  is  the 
Wanderer  sweeping  down  with  a  cloud  of  canvas." 


26O  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  By  the  way,  what  have  you  done  with  your  ship- 
wrecked crew  ? "  Manson  asked  Nordenskiold,  as  he 
took  the  glass. 

"  Put  them  on  the  'Ariel,'  a  new  bark  Chisholm  had 
bought  for  the  Company,"  said  the  lawyer,  with  a  side 
glance  at  old  Silas,  who  was  calmly  studying  his 
cigar.  "  I  had  a  telegram  that  they  sailed  yesterday 
from  the  Spanish  Main  and  Tampico." 

"  Well,  I  wish  them  better  luck  this  time,"  said  the 
engineer  simply. 

"  Oh,  a  neiv  ship  seldom  gets  lost ! "  the  advocate  care- 
lessly rejoined. 

By  the  evening  a  wonderful  revolution  in  public 
sentiment  had  been  wrought.  The  press  was  throwing 
off  a  triple  edition  of  the  special  issue,  and  four  hours 
of  close  conference,  and  the  deft  fingers  of  Norden- 
skiold had  closed  up  the  legal  organization  of  the  rail- 
road company. 

"  You  see,  I  will  detain  the  mail  boat  until  we  send 
the  whole  set  of  papers  away,  registered.  One  set  to 
Houston,  our  State  capital,  the  other  certified  set  to 
your  uncle,  for  himself  and  Senator  Steele,  a  third  to 
Chisholm,"  said  Silas. 

"It  is  nearer  to  Houston  by  land,  is  it  not? "asked 
Jack. 

"  True.  But  our  Dogtown  and  Uvalde  boys  occa- 
sionally nab  our  mail-riders  on  the  way  and  rip  open 
the  mails.  '  The  longest  way  round  is  the  safest  way 
home,' "  smiled  old  Silas,  who  was  now  in  good  humor. 

"  What  do  you  suppose  those  funny  devils  once  did? 
Last  year  a  special  Treasury  Agent  went  overland  from 
the  Rio  Grande  to  San  Antonio.  He  had  got  up  a 
lot  of  spy  information  and  papers,  and  proposed  to 
realize  'Civil  Service  Refprm  '  here.  He  found  out 
later  that  the  boys  had  quietly  examined  his  valises  at 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  261 

Brownsville.  On  the  way  over  to  San  Antonio  the 
buckboard  was  stopped,  his  team  and  property  taken, 
and  he  made  the  last  forty  miles  on  foot  to  San 
Antonio,  and  left  for  Washington  cursing  Texas!  He 
was  a  pompous  fat  man,  and  he  has  asked  'for  another 
sphere  of  duty.' " 

«  Who  did  that?  "  laughed  Jack. 

"  Oh,  I  suppose  it  was  '  Mexican  marauders,' "  Silas 
murmured  as  simply  as  a  child.  He  did  not  know  that 
Father  Blucher  had  bragged  of  this  very  trick  to  Jack! 
"  In  vino  veritas,"  is  applicable  even  in  the  land  of 
cactus  and  wild  horses! 

Before  the  swift  Wanderer  swept  away  to  Inclianola 
with  her  precious  freight,  Jack  Manson's  cipher  tele- 
gram announced  to  Mark  the  good  news  of  the  com- 
pleted legal  organization. 

In  four  hours  an  answer  da,ted  Washington,  D.  C., 
contained  private  directions  closing:  "Address  me 
Arlington  Hotel." 

"See  here,  Manson,  noru  that  we  are  partners,  I  wish 
to  give  you  the  private  tip  to  be  kept  a  secret  between 
your  uncle,  you  and  I.  I  see  you  have  sketched  out 
your  road  about  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  miles.  I 
wish  you  to  survey  it  up  to  measure  two  hundred  and 
eighty!  "  The  ranchero  was  driving  Jack  dinnerward. 

Manson  stared  in  amazement. 

"  Why  it's  unprofessional  and  wasteful  "  the  economic 
student  hotlv  said. 

"  Yes"  Silas  slowly  answered.  "  My  boy,  you  are 
not  yet  up  to  our  simple  frontier  ideas.  I  had  Nor- 
denskiold  fix  up  that  bill.  It  is  now  a  law,  and  my 
property,  our  property !  We  get  twenty  miles  square 
of  alternated  land  on  either  side,  for  merely  'perfecting 
the  survey  and  visibly  locating  and  mapping  the  line.* 
This  extra  one  hundred  and  forty-five  miles,  which 


262  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

by  running  hither  and  thither  you  can  gain,  gives  us 
an  extra  slip  of  land  amounting  to  two  thousand  nine 
hundred  square  miles,  or  a  million  eight  hundred  thou- 
sand acres.  That  will  build  the  road  in  itself!  But 
it  is  an  extra  profit  for  you  and  I — our  private  interest  / 
We  are  no  fools!" 

Manson  began  to  grasp  at  Silas'  sagacious  trickery. 

"  But  you  can  not  secure  it  unless  you  build  the  line" 
Manson  affirmed. 

"See  here,  my  boy!"  Silas  handed  him  a  printed 
copy  of  the  law.  "  There  is  a  clause  enacting  that 
where  lands  have  been  taken  up  along  the  line  as 
built,  we  can  locate  in  lieu  all  we  are  entitled  to  in 
other  places.  Now,  we  earn  it  by  simply  surveying 
and  locating.  There  is  also  a  clause  permitting  us  to 
shorten  and  alter  (in  the  public  interest)  later.  Now, 
I  have  located  all  the  land  along  our  real  line  myself." 

Jack's  eyes  were  widely  staring. 

"  I  have  the  tracts  we  wish  to  cover  all  mapped  out! 
Our  lieu  selections  take  precedence  of  all  other  Texan 
grants  in  the  interest  of  the  public."  There  was  a 
comfortable  grin  on  Silas'  face. 

"  Did  Nordenskiold  do  this  ?  "  he  asked. 

"No;  he  only  put  the  laiv  through  as  I  wanted  it; 
but  Blucher  mapped  my  lands,  and  these  we  want. 
I  had  the  old  chap  six  months  at  it,  and  everything  is 
now  locked  up  in  my  safe.  I  have  to  pay  these  two 
old  files  heavily,  and  I  keep  them  always  blind  to  each 
other's  work." 

"  It's  a  wonderful  law,"  said  Jack,  rapt  in  admiration. 

"  It  is  a  pretty  good  law.  I  paid  three  thousand  dol- 
lars a  man  for  'niggers'  and  'carpet-baggers'  enough  to 
•vote  it  through.  You  see,"  said  Silas  modestly,  "  it 
was  when  we  were  under  the  heel  of  the  Federal 
Government,  just  after  war  time,  I  devised  this!" 


FOR    LIFE     AND    I.OYli.  263 

"  You  should  have  been  a  chief  justice,"  Jack  vent- 
ured to  say  in  compliment. 

"  Yes,  probably  it  would  have  been  easier  to  be  at  a 
law  college  than  shovelling  cOal  on  the  old  'Planter' 
as  a  quartermaster  laborer.  But  here  we  are  at  din- 
ner." 

Jack  Manson  began  to  realize  the  mental  calibre  of 
the  cool,  self-made  frontier  king. 

"  You  must  inform  your  uncle  only  by  word  of 
mouth  or  cipher  of  this.  I  am  frank  with  you,  my  boy. 
He  must  provide  the  iron,  cars,  and  funds.  He  can  do 
it.  I  can  not.  I  am  land  rich  and  money  poor.  I  am 
sending  a  drive  of  ten  thousand  cattle  to  Kansas  and 
the  market  in  a  month.  I  will  not  get  that  money  till 
next  spring;  but  I  will  have  a  million  dollars  loose 
then.  If  I  did  not  wish  to  build  the  road  at  once,  I 
would  do  it  then  alone  /  But  I  want  your  uncle  with 
me.  These  fellows  may  kill  me  any  day,  and  Jim 
needs  more  experience  than  he  has.  Old  Steele  is  only 
good  to  keep  me  '  square '  with  the  administration. 
I'm  not  popular  up  there.  Too  big  a  rebel"  said 
Silas,  leading  on  the  way  to  the  table. 

"Do  you  not  think  Southern  sentiment  will  change 
in  time?"  said  Jack,  with  curiosity. 

"Never!''  sternly  said  Silas.  "Whatever  anyone 
may  say  to  you,  we  are  as  big  rebels  as  when  we 
poured  over  Hancock's  stone  walls  at  Gettysburg! 
The  growing  children  drink  secession  with  their 
mother's  milk.  Our  women  are  implacable,  fiery, 
unyielding,  and  untiring.  They  sneered  the  men  '  to 
the  front'  when  they  could  not  wheedle  them  into 
danger,  and  they're  now  whipping  the  'lost  cause' 
into  their  children.  Wait,  my  boy!  You  will  see  our 
Southern  statesmen  crawl  slowly  on  top.  They  will 
work  twenty  years  to  weaken  the  North,  and  cut  the 


264  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

West  off.  Then  we  will  regain  the  balance  of 
power ! " 

"Do  you  believe  it?"  Jack  doubtfully  said. 

"I  know  it!  It  is  written  in  the  stars!"  said  the 
ranchero,  as  he  compounded  a  mysterious  beverage 
which  sealed  the  secret  intimacy  between  the  young 
man  and  himself.  Jack  drank  to  Katie  in  silence! 

While  Silas  Leavenworth  was  closeted  with  a  rider, 
who  dashed  up  after  dinner  with  reports  from  the 
canon,  and  Nordenskiold  and  himself  were  later  inter- 
rogating sternly  the  wounded  Mexican  boy,  who  had  a 
severe  thigh  flesh  wound,  Jack  Manson  read,  with 
intense  delight,  a  few  words  from  Katie: 

You  have  won  the  way  to  father's  heart  now.  You  hold 
mine  forever!  Be  careful — for  my  sake! 

Below  the  bluff,  where  Nordenskiold's  residence 
dominated  the  town,  the  one  great  hall  over  the  market- 
house  was  ablaze  with  light.  Crowds  of  excited  fron- 
tiersmen were  assembling  to  listen  to  addresses  sug- 
gested by  the  lawyer,  and  trimmed  up  by  the  crafty 
ranchero. 

The  collector,  the  judge,  the  editor,  Colonel  Bayard, 
Major  Blucher,  and  other  prominent  citizens,  in  due 
sequence,  demolished  every  iota  of  suspicion  and  objec- 
tion. The  throng  of  six  hundred  swarthy,  bearded, 
pistol-carrying  plainsmen  shouted  themselves  wild  under 
the  glare  of  swinging  oil-lamps  in  assent,  and  unani- 
mously howled  their  approval  of  the  half-million-dollar 
bonded  harbor  subsidy.  A  set  of  resolutions,  skillfully 
prepared,  were  rushed  through  "nem.  con.,"  and  the 
Corpus  Christ!  Gazette  was  also  requested  to  blazon 
the  sentiments  of  the  meeting  forth  at  once,  to  awake 
the  attention  of  the  interior  and  reassure  the  Northern 
capitalists. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  265 

The  presence  of  the  local  schoolmaster,  priest,  the 
Baptist  preacher,  some  progressive  German-Jewish 
merchants,  the  only  banker,  the  freight-handlers,  the 
coasting  sailors,  and  the  few  working  mechanics  united 
all  Corpus  Christi  in  a  golden  circle  of  unity. 

Alas!  the  uninitiated  could  not  see  the  foxy  hand  of 
Silas  and  his  lawyer  in  this  great  "outburst"  of  enthu- 
siasm, but  the  whole  town  did  appreciate  the  "Pansaje" 
or  general  "blow  out"  which  followed. 

The  hand  of  Rudolf  Harbeck,  the  astute  financier, 
was  deftly  employed  in  opening,  gratis  (on  account  of  his 
master)  the  St.  James,  the  Magnolia  Saloon,  the  "  Plant- 
ers' Hotel,"  "Joe  Garcia's,"  and  every  place  for  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  "wassail  bowl"  to  all  comers.  The 
flaring  light  of  tar  barrels,  the  music  of  the  polyglot 
"band,"  and  the  shouts  of  the  joyous  revellers,  reached 
Silas  Leavenworth,  as  he  left  the  "  Star  Chamber." 

"I  hope  that  the  boys  will  not  overdo  this  spon- 
taneous demonstration,"  remarked  the  ranchero,  as 
Jimmy,  Manson,  the  lawyer,  and  himself  sat  at  their 
ease. 

"Those  low-bred  fellows  in  Indianola,  Brownsville, 
and  the  interior,  might  gibe  at  us  a  little.  They  are  up 
to  these  tricks,  but  only  in  a  poor  way.  They  have  no 
'style'  about  them!"  Silas  was  in  a  flood-tide  of  com- 
placency. He  had  already  extracted  from  the  terrified 
boy  spy  all  he  knew,  and  chewed  in  anticipation  the 
sweet  cud  of  revenge! 

Within  six  months  many  a  lurking  prowler  around 
.San  Miguel  met  short  shrift;  the  nearest  mesquit,  a 
handy  lariat,  and  a  volley  of  bullets,  to  make  sure, 
easily  settled  their  prejudged  cases. 

**  Young  men,  you  may  look  around  town  a  little 
to-morrow.  I  want  to  talk  things  over  with  my 
banker  and  the  editor.  Then  we  will  go  home  in 


266  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

daylight,  openly,  as  I  have  men  enough  here.  The 
canon  is  now  clear.  They  found  three  fellows  dead 
in  the  '  chapparal '.  So,  Mr.  Caballo  Blanco  did  not 
4  make  the  trip '  this  time !  "  Silas  rose,  and  going  on 
the  porch,  dropped  into  the  earnest  hum  of  business 
conversation  with  his  lawyer.  Nordenskiold  knew, 
that  much  as  Silas  trusted  and  feared  him,  he  could 
never  thoroughly  fathom  the  depths  of  the  inscrutable 
ranchero.  Manson  watched  the  two  cold  schemers  at 
work. 

"You  can't  tell  where  a  man  will  finally  turn  up, 
my  boy,"  Silas  had  remarked.  "Keep  the  whip-hand 
on  everybody.  It's  all  right;  if  they  wish  to  be  your 
enemies,  you  are  ready.  As  for  friends,  any  man's 
your  friend — as  long  as  it  •pays  him  to  le"  Jack 
Manson  did  not  wonder  at  this  pearl  of  frontier  wis- 
dom, for  Silas  had  grown  up  in  the  hard  school  of 
adversity. 

While  the  railroad  triumphed  over  the  cabals  of  its 
envious  enemies  on  this  memorable  night,  at  Washing- 
ton, old  Mark  Manson  was  seated  in  the  room  where 
Mildred  Smiley  had  once  opened  her  passionate  heart 
to  Jack  Manson. 

The  luxury  of  the  residence  was  unchanged,  but 
during  the  dinner  and  at  the  tete-a-tete  following,  Mrs. 
Senator  Steele  was  the  ideal  senatorial  consort.  Ezra 
Steele  rode  calmly  on  the  tide  of  political  success,  and 
seconded  by  his  argus-eyed  wife,  was  now  a  leading 
feature  of  the  incoming  administration.  A  certain 
stately,  dignified  silence  became  him  well.  He  was 
now  more  honored  for  the  things  he  did  not  do  than 
those  he  did  achieve.  And,  daily,  Mildred  Steele  was 
building  a  wall  about  the  past  of  Mildred  Kenyon 
Smiley.  No  keen  eye  had  traced,  as  yet,  the  particu- 
lar'prominent  Southern  family'  to  which  she  owed 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  267 

the  blue  blood  coursing  in  the  delicate  veins  under  her 
dazzling,  tinted  flesh.  "I  only  feared  Mrs.  Marshall's 
eye,"  the  beauty  owned  to  her  mirror,  as  she  gazed  at 
her  own  loveliness.  "She  had  a  quiet,  searching  look 
which  always  shook  my  nerves.  Never  mind;  I  have 
'arrived!'  as  the  French  say.  And  Mrs.  Marshall, 
has  no  real  cause  to  hunt  me  down." 

There  was  a  gleam  of  satisfaction  in  her  eye  as  the 
senator  gravely  departed  for  a  special  "  conference 
committee  caucus." 

"  The  public  business,"  he  mournfully  said,  with  an 
old-time  wave  of  his  hand,  forgetting  that  he  could 
not  impose  upon  the  old  financier,  and  that  his  able 
wife  had  already  honeycombed  his  conceited  nature  in 
a  resolute  search  for  every  secret.  She  possessed  them 
all.  Even  the  whole  intrigue,  the  fatal  knowledge  of 
No.  4 — a  dangerous  discovery ! 

Mark   Manson's   ashes   of  life  warmed   a  little  in  a 
flickering  old-time   glow   when  the  "Empress"  said: 
"  Now  we  can  have  a  cosy  evemng  in  my  den."       His  ' 
nerves  thrilled  a  little  at  the  nearness  of  the  beautiful 
social  "  carpet-bagger." 

"By  heavens!  She's  too  good  for  that  oaf,"  mur- 
mured Mark,  with  the  easy  egotism  of  man's  submis"- 
sion  to  throbbing,  sentient  physical  beauty  with  its 
adjuncts  of  royal  dress,  burning  passion,  and  gentle, 
half-suggested  dalliance.  "  She  is  thrown  away  on 
him.  What  a  woman!  As  calm  now  as  the  lovely 
Caribbean.  I  would  like  to  see  her  in  a  tornado  of 
feeling! " 

Mark  was  destined  to  note  only  her  sunny  hours, 
like  an  antique  sun-dial. 

"  I  will  have  you  in  my  power.  I  will  not  be  led  by 
you,  pleasant  as  you  are!"  thought  Milly  Steele,  waving 
her  filmy  fan  over  a  matchless  bosom. 


268  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  If  I  can  get  the  secret  of  No.  4  from  this  successful 
'lost  pleiad,'  it  is  worth  as  handsome  a  necklace  as 
Tiffany  can  furnish.  By  Jove!  I  could  clasp  it  on 
myself."  Mark  was  now  within  the  "danger  line!" 

Mrs.  Steele  was  happy  at  last!  Her  table  was 
thronged  with  the  cards  of  even  the  great  "  unap- 
proachable." She  had  passed  beyond  the  penumbra  of 
social  uncertainty  into  the  clear  glow  of  the  "inner 
circle."  "  Old  family  "  representatives  might  sneer, 
but  the  senator's  wife  was  planted  in  the  ring  sur- 
rounding the  White  House.  In  duty  bound  the  admin- 
istration ladies  must  fight  her  battles,  and  no  one  dared 
to  touch  her  golden  shield  with  the  sharp  point  of  the 
lance.  But  one  man  she  feared!  It  was  Ramon  Maxan. 
For,  hidden  in  her  bosom,  she  carried  the  words  of 
Maxan's  latest  scrawl: 

Your  finesse  leads  you  to  betray  me  through  marriage.  Remem- 
ber, when  I  strike  you  it  will  be  to  the  heart.  I  will  slake  my 
burning  revenge  in  Mansoff  s  blood.  His  promised  bride  may 
sit  in  shadow  many  a  day  and  recall  my  name  in  her  bitter  tears. 
It  is  now  war  to  the  knife! 

"  He  would  never  dare  to  attempt  violence  toward 
me.  I  am  safe.  His  deeds  have  shut  the  door  on  him. 
He  will  never  return ! "  The  superb  woman,  in  her 
royal  loveliness,  could  not  hear  the  noiseless  spinning  of 
the  thread.  The  Fates,  unswerving,  unrelenting,  give 
no  sign! 

"  Mr.  Manson,"  the  beauty  murmured,  as  she  toyed 
with  her  jewelled  coffee-cup,  "  I  hope  that  you  will 
realize  how  devoted  I  am  to  the  Senator.  His  every 
interest  is  dear  to  me,  and  I  wish  the  benefit  of  your 
powerful  friendship  and  your  frank  advice.  I  can  do 
much  to  cement  the  union  between  you  as  well  as  the 
Leavenworths.  Our  interests  are  naturally  the  same." 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  269 

Perfectly  understanding  the  key  of  this  little  social 
prelude,  Mark  Hanson  decorously  played  second  violin. 
Gravely  on  his  guard,  the  financier,  in  an  hour's  gentle 
fencing,  became  assured  that  No.  4  would  not  be  dis- 
closed in  his  obscurity,  unless  some  pact  were  made 
with  the  beautiful  sphinx.  After  exhausting  his  special 
knowledge  of  the  Company — the  secret  projects  and  the 
future — Mark  felt  that  his  fair  antagonist  was  much 
better  armed,  at  all  points,  than  himself.  Her  knowl- 
edge was  far  beyond  his  as  to  the  mystery  of  Texas. 
The  clock  struck  ten.  Its  silvery  chime  reminded  Mark 
that  Senator  Steele's  imposing  form  might  bear  the  in- 
visible "  toga"  homeward  any  moment.  Manson  knew 
that  the  lovelorn  Samson  had  yielded  his  locks  warily 
under  the  charmer's  graceful  manipulation  of  the  shears. 

"  I  am  so  sorry  you  must  go,"  Milly's  flute-like  voice 
intoned,  as  she  gave  him  a  delicious  cordial.  "  I  have 
written  your  nephew  many  things  to  guard  him.  I  am 
deeply  interested  in  him.  In  these  graver  matters,  I 
might  have  things  of  moment  to  confide  to  you.  I  am 
now  tied  to  new  duties.  If  your  nephew  confided  in 
you  in  cipher,  you  might  confer  with  me.  But  it  must 
be  secretly.  He  will  have  the  inner  confidence  of  old 
Silas,  soon.  You  can  guess  why,"  she  said,  with  a 
rare  smile.  "  But  Senator  Steele  is  sometimes  uncer- 
tain! He  is  venturesome  in  politics.  I  look  to  his 
permanent  future  interests,  and  my  own.  And  yet, 
he  must  not  know  how  deeply  I  confide  in  your  sagacity. 
Although  I  have  no  secrets  to  conceal,  it  would  be  dan- 
gerous for  us  to  correspond.  A  messenger  could  not 
be  trusted.  I  am  trying  to  look  keenly  into  the  future 
of  this  growing  Mexican  scheme.  If  I  knew  the 
way — "  she  faltered. 

"  You  could  come  to  New  York ! "  cried  Mark  Man- 
son,  now  eager,  as  he  grasped  her  hands.  "  You  kno\\ 


270  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

what  I  wish  to  know.  Who  is  No.  4?  I  must  have 
an  independent  hold  upon  him.  I  will  see  that  your 
visits  are  made  safe  in  every  way." 

Milly's  smile  fascinated  the  financier.  "  I  know  only 
that  there  is  power,  place,  millions  to  be  divided.  I 
wish  to  plant  myself  on  a  rock  above  the  storms  of  pol- 
itics. Senator  Steele  does  not  see  what  I  observe.  I 
know  that  the  negro  foundation  of  Southern  repub- 
licanism will  melt  away  under  the  men  now  in  power. 
The  astute,  dominating  men  of  Dixie  will  regain  con- 
trol! Steele  may  be  left  without  influence,  a  stranded 
man.  He  has  been  very  kind  to  me.  I  love  luxury; 
it  is  the  breath  of  life  in  my  nostrils.  I  fear  his  heavy 
party  contributions,  and  the  public  burdens  attached  to 
his  place.  The  laurels  of  the  war  are  already  fading. 
A  practical  home  government  alone  will  settle  the 
Southern  question.  Shall  we  work  together?  " 

"Will  you  tell  me  what  I  must  know  ?  "  Manson 
cried,  his  grasp  on  her  jewelled  hands  tightening.  "  It 
will  ensure  your  future." 

"  I  may  tell  you — in  New  Tork"  she  answered, 
flashing  back  the  promise  of  her  brilliant  eyes,  as  she 
sought  her  cabinet  and  handed  him  a  card.  It  was  a 
simple  address.  "  If  you  need  me  write  or  telegraph," 
she  said,  in  a  whisper.  "And  you,  how  shall  /  com- 
municate? " 

The  ebony  escritoire  was  soon  locked  on  another 
secret. 

"We  are  comrades,  are  we  not?  "  Milly  said  archly. 

Mark  Manson  stooped  and  kissed  her  jewelled  hands 
with  unnecessary  fervor  for  a  mere  business  association. 

"For  life!"  he  said.  "We  understand  each  other. 
I  think  my  lady  will  have  that  necklace,"  Mark  solilo- 
quized, as  he  greeted  the  returning  senator  at  the  door 
on  his  exit.  Milly  Steele  sweetly  smiled  an  adieu  to 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  271 

one,  and  a  welcome  to  the  other,  as  she  stood  under 
the  arched  frescos. 

"  I  am  secure  now.  I  can  defy  poverty  and  chance. 
I  am  safe  forever!"  thought  the  siren. " 

"She  will  not  be  caught  with  mere  gew-gaws.  I 
must  make  her  half  a  million! "  ruminated  the  retreating 
Midas. 

"A  good  evening's  work !"  proudly  cried  Steele  to  his 
wife.  For  a  great  measure  was  in  the  "  becalmed " 
region  of  his  committee,  and  an  all-powerful  lawyer 
had  whispered  over  a  bottle  at  the  Arlington :  "  If  you 
can  only  see  this  thing  rightly,  you  will  be  one  of  us, 
Senator." 

The  brooding  peace  of  work  well  done,  and  the  happy 
consciousness  of  judicious  and  well-placed  effort  blessed 
the  slumbers  of  the  worthy  trio  just  parted. 

So  the  subtle  influence  of  magic  "  gold,"  the  dazzling, 
dreamy  fascination  of  easily  made  money,  spread  its 
trail,  a  bright  comet  from  New  York's  buttressed 
mansions  to  the  distant  borders  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

For  gold  and  the  lust  of  gold  the  soldier  has  bled,  the 
mariner  dared  the  pathless  sea,  friend  betrayed  friend, 
blood  conspired  against  its  kindred,  youth  struggled, 
and  age  schemed  since  the  world  began!  Hardly  won 
and  lightly  held !  It  has  bought  the  smiles  of  blushing 
beauty  since  Jupiter  blinded  Danae  with  the  golden 
cloud ! 

"  There's  not  a  horse  in  Texas  like  him,"  said  Jimmy 
Leavenworth,  patting  Manson's  new  acquisition,  as  the 
heart  brothers  strolled  out  under  the  moonlight  to  the 
stable  to  see  their  animals  well  bestowed.  "  What  a 
scoundrel  Ximenes  turned  out!  I  am  sorry;  for  he 
knows  our  whole  system  and  inner  lines.  You  see, 
Jack,  the  devil  was  such  a  peerless  courier,  that  we  kept 


272  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

him  against  good  judgment.  My  fear  is  he  may  keep  up 
disaffection  among  our  men  and  betray  either  of  us.  If 
you  ever  clap  eyes  on  him,  kill  him  like  a  dog!  He  is 
merciless,  and  a  really  dangerous  fellow." 

As  Jimmy  spoke,  a  tired  rider  entered  the  stables. 
«  Well,  Bill ! "  The  young  Texan  had  a  pleasant  word 
for  the  scout  who  had  been  away  on  a  secret  mission 
for  Silas. 

"  I  have  a  letter  for  you,  Mr.  James.  Don't  ask  me 
when  or  where  I  got  it.  It  was  up  Dogtown-way 
though.  The  gentleman  said  you  knew  him  in  old 
times." 

Bronco  Bill  placed  his  pet  horse  in  comfort  and 
watched  Leavenworth  read  the  letter  by  the  stable 
lantern. 

"  Poor  old  Wes  Hardin !  "  he  said,  with  evident  con- 
cern. "  Come  in,  Jack,  I  wish  to  talk  to  you."  As 
the  gallant  fellow  walked  he  murmured:  "Out  alone! 
On  the  prairie!  A  price  on  his  head!  It's  pretty  hard! 
But  he's  game  to  the  last!" 

In  their  room,  Jimmy  handed  Jack  a  brief  scrawl. 
It  was  in  pencil,  on  the  backs  of  old  envelopes,  their 
addresses  torn  off,  and  it  was  fastened  with  a  buckskin 
string: 

DEAR  JIM: 

I've  been  hanging  around  to  see  some  one  of  your  people.  1 
know  Bill  is  square,  and  wont  put  anybody  on  me.  Take  care 
of  yourself,  Jim.  You  were  always  good  to  me.  Maxan,  el 
Jaguar,  offers  five  thousand  for  your  head,  and  same  for  your 
friend.  Caballo  Blanco  got  cut  up  in  the  fight,  and  swears  he'll 
do  the  business  himself.  Ximenes  was  shot  in  the  shoulder,  and  I 
struck  them  at  the  Fandango  House,  above  Los  Angeles.  They've 
taken  him  away.  He  swears  to  kill  that  stranger  to  get  his  horse 
back.  Look  out!  If  anything  happens,  strike  red-hot  for  Las 
Cuevas.  They  always  cross  the  Bravo  there.  If  you  have  to 
follow,  run  them  clear  to  his  ranch.  Take  a  good  gang.  He  has 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE,  273 

/ 

a  hard  crowd.  Don't  be  off  your  guard  a  minute.  This  is  dead 
square  for  old  days.  Good-bye,  Jim.  I  slipped  away  to  warn 
you. 

JOHN  WESLEY  HARDIN. 

"There's  a  man  with  a  good  mother,  and  a  fine  old 
Baptist  preacher  for  a  father.  He  was  shoved  in  the 
Confederate  Army,  a  mere  boy.  When  he  came  back, 
father  gave  him  a  show,  as  my  old  schoolmate.  He  had 
to  kill  a  quarrelsome  rancher.  The  man  had  a  lot  of 
enraged  relatives.  Poor  old  Wes!  He  took  to  the  plains, 
and  that  lean-faced  boy  (he's  only  twenty-four)  has 
killed  a  dozen  men.  Hunted  like  a  dog,  there's  a  big 
price  on  his  head.  Every  one  is  gunning  for  him  — 
Rangers,  deputies,  and  troops.  I  ran  on  him  once. 
We  had  a  talk!  I  begged  him  to  leave  the  country. 
He  has  too  much  pride.  And  he  sends  me  now  this 
warning.  Jack,  I  am  sorry  for  you.  This  hangs  over 
us  both!  I've  got  to  be  used  to  it,  but  it  is  a  doom 
you  did  not  seek.  It's  really  no  quarrel  of  yours. 
Poor  old  Wesley!  He  is  kindly  at  heart.  If  those  fel- 
lows knew  what  he  did,  they  would  broil  him  on  a 
cactus  fire." 

Jack  Manson  read  the  simple  words.  His  eyes 
flashed. 

"Jimmy,  I'll  stay  through  this  thing  with  you,"  and 
two  voices  joined  in  the  heartfelt  words,  "  For  Katie's 
Sake." 

Two  days  later,  in  leisurely  style,  Silas  Leavenworth 
departed  under  the  knightly  escort  of  his  son,  Bayard, 
and  Jack  Manson.  A  strong  squad  of  his  retainers 
enabled  them  to  laugh  at  attack. 

"  I'll  see  you  safely  over  the  canon  and  then  go  off  to 
my  ranch,"  said  Bayard,  who  had  a  pair  of  lank  Texan 
lads  of  wolf-like  appearance  in  his  train. 

Riding   in   advance,  the   three   friends  discussed  the 


274  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

canon  affair,  Ximenes'  treason,  and  the  warning.  "  I 
would  tell  your  father  the  whole  situation  at  once,5' 
said  Bayard. 

Father  and  son  communed  an  hour  as  they  leisurely 
travelled  along,  for  Silas  was  conveying  the  crippled 
prisoner  to  his  ranch.  As  the  train  approached  the 
arroyo,  the  son,  with  glowing  face,  joined  his  friends. 

"  The  padre  will  leave  half  a  dozen  men  here,  now. 
Next  week  he  will  send  a  band  of  sheep  down  here. 
The  pastores,  with  two  or  three  good  men,  can  build  a 
permanent  guard  cabin  here,  and  the  grazing  will  war- 
rant it.  It  will  break  up  any  chance  of  an  ambush  here. 
On  the  prairie  any  of  us  alone  can  stand  off  a  half- 
dozen  of  these  sneaking  thieves.  It  is  a  good  idea." 

An  hour's  rest  for  luncheon  at  the  spring  brought  Col- 
onel Tom's  companionship  to  an  end.  "  I'll  be  over  every 
two  or  three  weeks  to  see  you,"  he  said,  as  he  shook 
hands  with  Silas.  "I  have  got  to  look  over  my  cattle  a 
little  now.  If  you  want  me,  send  an  express  rider.  I'll 
show  up  as  quick  as  old  'Baldy'  will  bring  me."  Wiih 
a  few  last  words  the  chivalric  soldier  rode  away.  Jack 
Manson  well  knew  the  sweet,  dark-eyed  St.  Cecilia 
was  the  magnet  drawing  him  "every  two  or  three 
weeks"  toward  the  stately  domain  of  San  Miguel. 
But  Alice  herself  knew  that  the  beautiful  oak-shaded 
knoll  of  the  Nueces  was  being  beautified  for  the  home- 
coming of  his  promised  bride. 

"There  goes  as  gallant  a  man  as  ever  sat  a  horse!" 
said  Silas,  as  the  party  moved  on  toward  home. 

On  the  porch  at  San  Miguel,  a  happy  circle  waited 
for  the  returning  travellers.  Silas  Leavenworth's  grave, 
gentle  wife  kept  up  her  usual  composure,  until  alone 
she  threw  herself  on  his  neck  in  fond  emotion. 

Manson's  heart  beat  with  all  a  lover's  pride  as  Katie 
whispered,  in  the  tumult,  "You  are  now  my  oivn  Texan, 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  275 

sir.  You  have  won  my  father's  heart.  To-night,  you 
can  walk  under  my  roses  with  me.  For  five  minutes 
only !  Remember — no  longer." 

"  Katie,"  said  Jack,  "  have  you  forgotten  the  roses 
at  Indianola?"  With  one  fleeting  glance  of  tender 
love,  the  conquered  maiden  disappeared. 

After  dinner,  Silas  addressed  his  son:  "Jimmy!  you 
can  now  organize  your  party.  I  am  going  to  give  you 
twenty  good,  picked  men,  to  take  Jack  here  over  the 
line,  and  I  wish  you  to  go  out  one  way,  and  take  your 
time.  '  On  your  return,  push  hard,  and  come  back  on  a 
different  trail,  at  least  twenty  miles  away.  I  may  have 
a  telegram  to  go  to  New  Orleans  and  sign  the  railroad 
bonds.  I  will  take  Nordenskiold  with  me.  Of  course, 
I  would  sooner  have  you  at  the  ranch  when  I'm  gone; 
but  we  will  start  the  big  drive,  and  then  you  can  go. 
I  will  send  a  rider  out  to  meet  you  when  I  start — if 
you  are  on  the  prairie." 

Jack  Manson  blessed  the  happy  chance  of  Silas'  with- 
drawal to  his  den.  Under  the  starlight,  the  roses  heard 
Katie  Leavenworth's  sweet  lips  frame  again  the  words 
which  thrilled  her  lover's  heart. 

"  The  roses  are  our  friends,"  she  whispered,  as  their 
graceful  vines  shaded  the  two  lovers,  for  the  little 
queen's  heart  was  beating  close  to  the  breast  of  the 
man  she  loved.  "Good-night!  Good-night  again!" 
was  the  soft  refrain  of  the  two  whose  eyes  met  in  the 
pledge  of  the  love  of  a  life! 

Three  days  later,  Manson  had  verified  every  prepa- 
ration for  the  border  ride.  As  he  rode  out  to  see 
the  "big  drive"  start  away,  the  mail-bag  arrived.  He 
thrust  his  letters  in  his  breast,  save  one  which  bore  the 
handwriting  of  his  self-elected  guardian,  the  senator's 
fair  wife. 


276  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

The  bitter  letter  of  Ramon  Maxan  was  enclosed. 
Milly  Steele's  pithy  words  touched  him. 

You  are  fighting  for  me  now;  I  am  for  you.  Your  uncle  and  I 
are  agreed  as  to  joint  action.  1  see,  now,  that  Maxan  wished  to 
control  the  Company  by  governing  my  husband  through  me,  or 
by  marriage  with  your  promised  bride.  His  quarrel  has  made 
the  one  impossible.  My  union  with  the  senator  broke  the  other 
chain!  Now,  his  revenge  embraces  the  Leavenworths  and  you; 
and  his  plan  also  includes  my  disgrace.  I  again  warn  you. 
He  will  strike  like  the  blind  rattlesnake  in  summer — at  what 
is  nearest  and  dearest.  For  my  sake,  beware!  Continue  your 
private  correspondence  with  me.  Be  warned  in  time! 

"Jimmy,  that  scoundrel  is  entirely  too  near  us  at 
present!  Why,  Los  Angeles  is  only  thirty  miles  from 
your  home  in  a  direct  line,"  said  Manson. 

"  That's  true,  Jack,  but  we  can  not  break  up  that  vil- 
lage. There  are  some  decent  people  there,  as  Mexi- 
cans go;  but  every  one  of  them  will  shield  a  malefactor 
of  their  race.  Time  alone  will  sweep  them  over  the 
Rio  Grande.  We  must  strike  the  gang  on  their  raids, 
or  catch  them  crossing  the  river.  It  is  hard.  They 
scatter  like  quails  when  surprised:  I  will  have  one  of 
our  four  companies  of  State  Rangers  ordered  down 
here,  to  cover  the  zone  between  here  and  Brownsville, 
Ringgold  Barracks,  Laredo,  and  Eagle  Pass.  The 
regular  troops  are  good  enough,  but  the  raiders  avoid 
them.  It  is  like  chasing  will-o'-the-wisps.  Our  cav- 
alry along  the  river  has  been  diverted  by  false  raids, 
and  enormous  trains  of  the  most  valuable  goods  are 
often  smuggled  over  while  they  are  away.  The 
customs  inspectors  riding  the  Rio  Grande,  two  and 
two,  from  its  mouth  to  El  Paso,  have  lost  twentv- 
three  men  by  ambush  and  murder  in  the  last  two 
years!  A  telegraph  might  help  us,  but  it  would  be  cut 
everywhere.  Your  road  will  bring  in  settlers,  and 
only  then  will  we  be  freed  of  these  scoundrels." 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  277 

"  I  see  your  great  difficulties,"  said  Jack  reflectively. 

"  Yes.  At  home,  in  the  comfortable  North,  people 
can  not  see  why  we  are  forced  to  take  the  law  in  our 
own  hands.  An  alert  and  indignant  people  do  make 
mistakes  in  their  fury;  but  what  can  we  do?  Our 
homes  can  not  be  pillaged.  And  look  at  the  whole 
Texan  situation!  Sweeping  emancipation  has  thrown 
the  improvident  negro  on  his  own  resources.  The 
worst  of  them  were  formerly  carted  to  the  Red  River, 
or  fled  over  here.  A  few  bad  negroes  cause  our 
sullen,  impoverished  youth  to  attack  the  respectable 
blacks  right  and  left.  The  disorganization  of  the  war 
has  torn  the  South  to  pieces.  In  time,  it  will  settle 
down.  No  sane  people  wish  to  brutalize  their  patient, 
subordinate  laborers.  We  do  not.  But  the  South 
resents  negro-suffrage.  By  fair  means  or  foul,  the 
whites  will  make  the  negro-vote  ineffective.  When 
the  generation  which  knew  slavery  and  fought  the 
war  has  disappeared,  to  the  last  man,  then  the  negro 
will  assume  his  secondary  place  in  quiet.  You  had 
slave  markets  once  in  New  York  City;  and  now 
you  wish  negro  equality  elsewhere.  Look  at  the  hub- 
bub  over  one  colored  cadet  at  West  Point!  How 
would  you  like  to  live  in  a  Louisiana  parish  with  five 
hundred  whites  and  two  thousand  blacks?  The  North- 
ern man  is  \hzjirst  to  howl  when  he  is  forced  to  put 
up  with  it.  We  know  how  to  treat  the  black.  Your 
ideal  philanthropy  f,ails.  God  alone  knows  where  the 
black  will  stand  in  fifty  years!  We  have  the  unsettled 
frontier,  the  negro  problem,  and  the  Indian  raids  to 
meet.  It  is  like  sleeping  on  one's  arms.  We  will  wipe 
out  the  marauders,  drive  back  the  Indians,  who  raid  in 
now  from  the  open  Northwest  and  the  big  bend  of  the 
Rio  Grande,  and  the  negro  will  finally  gravitate  into 
his  quiescence.  Twenty  years  from  to-day  smiling 


278  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

homes  will  reach  from  Brownsville  to  Eagle  Pass, 
and  over  to  San  Antonio.  Your  railroad  is  the  har- 
binger of  peace  and  prosperity.  But  here's  the  drive!" 

From  a  rising  knoll,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach, 
ten  great  bands  of  cattle,  each  under  control  of  thirty 
or  forty  riders,  with  tossing  horns,  wild,  hoarse  bellow- 
ing, and  thundering  hoofs,  made  more  noise  than  an 
army  taking  position  for  battle.  Separated  by  a  half- 
mile,  each  band  had  its  captain  and  its  little  wagon- 
train.  Armed  to  the  teeth,  their  kits  lashed  behind 
them,  the  lithe  riders,  with  easy  sway,  glided  among 
the  maddened  beasts. 

"You  have  here  our  wild  country  life!  There's  a 
sight  worth  coming  from  Paris  to  see.  Discipline, 
experience,  foresight,  every  resource  of  self-reliance 
are  here.  These  men  march,  guard,  drive,  repair,  and 
move  along  like  the  main  train  of  a  field  army.  Over 
the  great  trail  across  the  northeast  part  of  the  State, 
over  the  Indian  Territory  to  Kansas  and  the  fattening 
pasture,  this  great  animal  crop  carries  itself,  and  in 
good  condition,  next  spring,  will  be  a  month's  sub- 
sistence for  Chicago  or  New  York.  Ten  miles  a  day 
for  four  months  is  their  route." 

"  Do  you  lose  many  ?  "  Jack  questioned 

"  We  allow  five  per  cent  for  food,  wastage,  and  acci- 
dent. Let  us  go  back ;  they  are  under  way." 

A  distant  rumbling  thunder,  the  shouts  of  three 
hundred  men,  and  the  firing  of  signal  shots  announced 
that  a  half-million  dollars  moved  slowly  along  in  the 
tossing  horns,  sleek  hides,  and  wild  charges  of  the 
doomed  spoils  of  the  Texan  prairies. 

"  To-morrow,  Jack,"  said  the  heir  of  San  Miguel, 
"  we  will  draw  out  at  noon,  and  make  a  start!  Pll 
have  a  few  out-riders  skirmish  over  our  whole  home 
place.  I  will  keep  pickets  riding  around  us  incessantly. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  279 

In  daylight  we  can  whip  a  hundred  marauders.  At 
night,  I'll  have  a  ring  of  sentinels  to  prevent  anyone 
sneaking  up  on  us.  Now,  Jack,  I  will  occupy  the 
'  padre '  to-night,"  said  his  friend,  a  little  maliciously. 
"  I  fancy  that  mother  and  Alice  will  have  some  of 
their  usual  occupations  to  engross  them.  If  you  wish 
to  say  anything  to  Katie,  I  would  suggest  a  sort  of 
private  *  musicale  '  in  the  great  parlor.  I  believe  that 
my  father  is  not  devoted  to  music.  I  will  entice  him 
to  the  'Den'!" 

"Thanks,  old  fellow,"  said  Jack,  blushing  under  the 
fast  deepening  prairie  bronze  of  his  handsome  face. 
"  Do  you  work  similar  tactics  at  Arundel  House?" 

"  Oh,  Gertie  and  I  have  a  '  safe  conduct '  already.  Our 
Rubicon  is  passed,  as  far  as  her  mother  is  concerned ! 
But  you  and  I  are  still  in  the  same  uneasy  predica- 
ment as  to  our  brides,  Jack.  /  have  to  creep  gently 
on  the  'padre's'  outworks.  Tou  will  be  all  right.  He 
will  surrender  to  Katie.  She  rules  his  heart.  But 
he  does  not  know  my  Gertrude." 


CHAPTER  XII. 

FOR  LIFE  AND  LOVE — ON  THE  WILD  PRAIRIE MRS. 

MARSHALL'S  LETTER — SILAS'  VOYAGE — AT  HACI- 
ENDA MAXAN— PANCHITA THE  JAGUAR  ON  THE 

TRAIL A    THUNDERBOLT LOST    KATIE FIRST 

BLOOD  FOR  JACK A  CAPTURED  MESSAGE. 

"WELL,  young  man,  are  you  all  ready  for  the  road?" 
calmly  remarked  Silas  Leavenworth,  as  the  official 
circle  began  to  drop  away  at  the  close  of  the  dinner. 

"  Right  as  right  can  be,"  merrily  answered  Jimmy, 
but  the  lines  of  his  face  hardened  as  he  caught  a  glance 


280  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

from  Katie's  eyes,  shadowed  with  anxiety.  "  We  ride 
out  at  daybreak,  sir,"  concluded  the  young  man,  while 
he  finished  his  coffee. 

"  Bring  Harbeck  and  the  foreman  out  to  my  office, 
James.  I  wish  to  have  them  understand  my  instruc- 
tions to  you,  if  I  am  away,  so  that  we  can  all  work 
together.  Mother,  you  and  the  girls  can  entertain 
Mr.  Manson.  I  know  it's  dull  enough  for  him  here." 

Katie's  mother  nodded  her  head  demurely,  while  St. 
Cecilia  gazed  steadily  at  Miss  Katie,  who  was  strangely 
indifferent  in  her  manner. 

"Then  it's  all  settled  now,"  said  the  ranchero,  rising. 
"  I  will  inspect  your  outfit  before  you  go.  Take  the 
best  stock  and  no  poor  break-down  rig."  A  grave 
anxiety  marked  Silas  Leavenworth,  for,  since  the  canon 
attack,  he  felt  that  his  enemies  were  ever  prowling  near. 

"  Don't  wait  for  me,  Jack,  but  turn  in  when  you  wish. 
I  will  be  some  hours  at  the 'Den'  to-night,  I  know. 
I'll  wake  you  myself  in  the  morning!"  whispered  the 
heir  of  San  Miguel. 

Jack  Manson  flashed  one  grateful  look  at  "  Katie's 
brother,"  who  evidently  was  determined  to  make  this 
night  session  a  memorable  one. 

Manson  strolled  over  to  the  house  with  the  ladies. 
The  broad  portico  invited  the  usual  half-hour's  general 
gathering.  The  witching  moonlight  began  to  silver  the 
knolls  around  the  home  place.  A  gentle  silence  was 
accentuated  by  the  tinkle  of  the  distant  herd -bell.  Miss 
Katie  was  distraught,  while  Jack  Manson,  with  un- 
wearied politeness,  sustained  the  most  unmeaning  con- 
versation of  his  life  with  Sister  Alice  and  her  mother. 
Grave,  gentle  Alice's  thoughts  were  far  away  on  the 
Nueces.  She  was  deeply  interested  in  certain  extensive 
"improvements"  of  Colonel  Tom  Bayard's  home. 

"I  will  let  him  have  his  way.     I  can  change  all  -very 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  281 

easily"  thought  the  gentle  girl,  whose  steadfast  heart 
was  fixed  on  the  amelioration  of  the  social  surroundings 
of  the  gallant  veteran.  "  I  will  write  him,  though,  not 
to  give  '  carte  blanche  '  orders  to  strangers  North  for 
things  I  do  not  need.  He  is  so  generous,  so  anxious  to 
please  me."  It  was  even  so!  But  Colonel  Tom's  ideas 
of  luxurious  decoration  were  derived  from  certain  gor- 
geous Mississippi  River  steamboats  he  had  voyaged  on 
during  the  late  Confederacy,  and  some  fantastic  stage- 
settings  at  New. Orleans! 

"  I  have  letters  to  write,"  calmly  remarked  Alice,  as 
she  rose  to  leave. 

"  I  suppose  I  know  to  whom"  said  Katie,  with  fatal 
audacity,  as  her  queenly  sister  moved  out  of  the  circle. 

"  You  are  fortunate,  Katie,  that  you  have  none  to 
write  at  present"  quietly  said  Alice,  pausing  at  the 
door. 

For  once  the  madcap  heiress  was  silent.  Jack  Man- 
son  heaved  a  sigh  of  ecstatic  relief  as  Mrs.  Leaven- 
worth  said :  "  I  find  it  a  little  chilly ;  I  think  that  I  will 
go  in." 

"  Of  all  nights,  the  night  for  a  walk  in  the  garden! " 
cried  Katie,  with  sudden  decision,  for  she  had  felt  in 
her  heart  of  hearts  the  graceful  riposte  of  Alice. 

"  Do  not  linger  too  late,  my  child,"  said  Mrs.  Leaven- 
worth,  with  a  meaning  inclination  of  her  head  toward 
the  "Den,"  where  the  "  council  of  war"  was  already 
convened. 

Jack  Manson  felt  assured  that  the  grave,  dark-eyed 
woman  was  already  his  friend.  But  the  variable,  impe- 
rious Silas! 

Down  the  rose  alleys,  side  by  side,  the  lovers  walked 
in  silence.  The  parting  hour  was  coming!  When 
Katie's  bower  was  reached,  the  little  household  tease 
threw  herself  into  the  open  arms  of  her  lover. 


282  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  My  God !  How  can  I  see  you  go  out  upon  this  ride ! 
I  have  the  strangest  forebodings.  Jack,  my  Jack! 
Have  I  led  you  into  this  wild  land  ? "  The  girl's  sobs 
thrilled  Manson's  inmost  soul. 

"Dearest!  my  Katie!  Why?  What  risk  can  there  be 
with  Jimmy  and  twenty  picked  men?  We  could  'stand 
off'  the  whole  Mexican  border  till  we  could  get  help/' 
Manson  was  astonished  at  her  depth  of  feeling. 

"  It  is  so  cruel !  I  can  hardly  speak  to  you,"  the 
passionate  girl  cried.  "And  I  have  had  such  dreams! 
That  fiend  who  seeks  father's  life  will  follow  you  and 
Jimmy.  My  God !  Be  careful.  I  know  this  fearful 
land."  Katie  was  clinging  to  him  in  loving  emphasis! 

Manson  folded  her  to  his  breast.  "  Sweet  one!  It  is 
now  a  struggle  for  Life  and  Love!  Your  brother  is 
resolute.  I  am  no  child.  If  that  lurking  assassin 
hounds  us,  he  will  meet  the  sternest  reception.  Jimmy 
has  not  wished  to  alarm  you.  We  can  not  attack  him 
in  Mexico,  but  if  he  falls  into  our  net,  it  is  war  to  the 
knife!  I  know  Creole  revenge.  He  will  meet  the 
penalty  of  his  mad  folly.  Let  me  think  of  you  only  as 
bright  and  happy,  my  own  heart's  darling.  ^Till  we 
meet  again,  I  will  bear  your  smiling  face  in  my  heart. 
You  are  a  Texan  girl,  remember." 

Katie's  tears  lingered  on  the  lashes  shading  her  eyes 
until  the  impetuous  flow  of  her  lover's  tenderness 
chased  away  the  haunting  phantoms  of  Ramon  Maxan! 

It  was  an  hour,  a  brief,  happy  hour,  too  short  for  the 
hearts  beating  each  to  each,  when  Katie  cried,  with 
her  arms  around  the  man  to  whom  she  had  shown  the 
whole  intensity  of  her  ardent  soul:  "  We  must  go  in! 
I  shall  see  you,  my  heart's  darling,  in  the  morning.  Do 
not  look  at  me  when  I  look  at  you;  I  should  break 
down.  But  I  will  ride  out  with  you,  and  say  good- 
bye. My  life  goes  with  my  love.  By  all  you  hold 
dear, — be  not  one  moment  off  your  guard." 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  283 

The  roses  alone  saw  the  lovers'  parting.  There  was 
the  supreme  moment,  as  when  the  warrior  falls  into 
the  waiting  line.  But  there  was  not  a  tremor  in  brave 
Katie's  voice  as  ten  minutes  later  she  said  "Good- 
night" in  the  parlors. 

Jack  Manson  was  glad  to  escape  the  keen,  gray  eye 
of  old  Silas,  and  his  hasty  reference  to  "  an  early 
reveille  "  was  the  signal  of  departure. 

While  they  slept,  the  wounded  boy  spy  was  steal- 
ing furtively  through  the  mesquit  bushes  beyond  the 
men's  camp,  with  a  brief  scrawl  hidden  in  his  rags.  It 
read: 

The  two  young  Gringos  leave  for  Eagle  Pass  to-morrow, 
early.  Make  sure  of  them. 

Away  toward  the  hamlet  of  Los  Angeles,  the  boy 
dashed  in  mad  fear,  for  a  stolen  bridle,  thrown  on  the 
first  half-tamed  "  cow-horse "  he  met,  gave  him  the 
means  of  reaching  Ximenes'  hiding-place  before  day! 
For  the  wounded  and  baffled  traitor  only  waited  his 
coming  to  send  his  waiting  riders  to  warn  Maxan  in 
his  safe  eyrie  across  the  Rio  Bravo. 

The  gray  of  morning  lingered  over  the  fair  slopes 
of  San  Miguel,  as  Jimmy  laid  his  friendly  hand  on 
Jack  Manson's  shoulder.  With  a  bound  the  engineer 
was  on  his  feet. 

"Our  men  are  already  breakfasting.  The  wagon  is 
ready,  and  our  horses  wait  at  the  door."  Such  were 
the  brief  words  of  the  Texan. 

As  Jack  Manson  entered  the  breakfast-room,  there 
was  a  general  movement  of  surprise.  Clad  in  his 
fringed  suit  of  Indian  Valley  tan  buckskin,  the  supple 
form  and  manly  beauty  of  the  young  lover  were  dis- 
played to  striking  advantage.  His  soft,  gray  frontier 
hat,  and  belt  with  his  hunting-knife  and  the  tried 


284  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

pistols,  were  the  finishing  touches  of  a  becoming  attire. 
His  noble  face,  serious  and  calm,  was  shadowed  with 
mingled  expectancy  and  resolve. 

A  nod  from  Silas,  a  gentle  smile  from  the  mother, 
was  the  greeting  received  by  Jack,  who  felt  his  heart 
bound,  as  Katie  Leavenworth,  in  riding  costume, 
entered  with  her  frank-faced  brother,  whose  sun- 
burned countenance  was  eager  and  bright.  Sister 
Alice  was  the  last  to  join  the  circle. 

"Well,  Lady  Bird!  are  you,  too,  going  to  Eagle 
Pass?"  said  Silas,  in  genuine  astonishment. 

"I  will  give  my  horse  a  morning  gallop,"  said  the 
wilful  heiress  of  San  Miguel,  as  she  tossed  her  whip 
and  gloves  on  a  side  table.  Her  thrilling  beauty  was 
heightened  by  the  high  courage  shining  in  her  stead- 
fast eyes.  One  flashing  glance  told  Jack  that  the 
woman  he  loved  had,  in  her  night  vigils,  followed  his 
dangerous  pathway!  The  roses  were  faint  tints  this 
morn  on  the  dauntless  Texan  girl's  face.  The  courage 
of  her  race  and  time  shone  through  a  complexion  as 
pale  as  alabaster,  tinged  only  with  the  repressed  current 
of  her  heart's  blood. 

Grave-faced  Mrs.  Leavenworth  shyly  glanced  at  the 
darling  child  of  her  heart.  A  fond  mother's  love  told 
her  that  her  beautiful  girl  now  knew  the  lot  of  the 
frontier  woman — in  riches  or  poverty,  to  wring  blood- 
less hands  and  wait  till  every  lurking  peril  would  ue 
passed!  When  Manson  forced  himself  to  speak,  he 
started  at  the  unfamiliar  sound  of  his  own  voice. 
And  yet,  the  two  lovers,  with  hearts  surcharged  with 
burning,  unspoken  tenderness,  ran  the  gauntlet  of 
crafty  Silas  Leavenworth's  keen  gray  eyes. 

Half  an  hour  later,  Jack  Manson,  as  he  put  Katie  on 
her  splendid  horse,  heard  joyously  her  brief  whisper: 
"We  will  have  ten  minutes  to  say  good-bye  at  the  edge 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  285 

of  the  me"sa!"  She  glancea  gratefully  at  Brother  Jim. 
Katie's  diplomacy! 

The  tall  Texan  youth's  head  towered  above  the  dark- 
robed  matron  whose  head  rested  on  his  bosom. 

"  Dear  mother,  you  must  not  worry.  Why,  I've 
made  this  same  trip  dozens  of  times!  Besides,  a  rider  is 
in  with  news  that  McNally's  Rangers  will  patrol  for  a 
month  from  Ringgold  to  Eagle  Pass.  I  have  taken 
our  best  men,  and  I  am  ordering  in  some  extra  boys  to 
scout  around  our  march.  We  will  be  just  as  safe  as  you 
at  home  here! " 

For  all  these  cheering  words,  Silas  Leavenworth's 
face  was  troubled  as  he  said:  "Now,  my  son!"  and, 
with  a  silent  grip  of  his  boy's  hands,  led  the  wife  and 
mother  weeping  to  her  room.  Though  it  was  a 
shadowed  parting,  the  old  ranchero  gave  no  special 
admonition  to  his  lion-hearted  son  when  he  galloped 
away!  The  cavalcade  was  already  a  half-mile  away, 
winding  along  the  edge  of  the  mesquit  thicket,  stretch- 
ing to  the  groves  of  the  sweet  lakes  "  Los  Olmos."  In 
the  early  freshness  of  the  day  the  slim  gray  deer 
bounded  easily  across  the  path.  Hundreds  of  long- 
earecl  hares  were  saluting  the  morning  sun.  The  wild 
turkeys  rushed  noisily  across  little  openings,  and  at  the 
point  of  the  timber  Jimmy  Leavenworth  turned  back 
and  gaily  swung  his  broad  sombrero!  The  anxious 
parents  walked  into  the  great  house. 

"  Did  Katie  take  any  ong  to  bring  her  back  ? "  said 
Mrs.  Leavenworth  to  Silas. 

The  old  ranchero  paused  and  briefly  said:  "  Yes,  I 
sent  on  a  couple  of  the  stockmen  to  watch  the  edge 
of  the  timber  for  any  prowlers."  His  heart  was  full  of 
the  last  ringing  "  good-bye  "  of  his  gallant  son.  But 
he  paused  once  more.  His  eagle  eye  swept  the  kingly 
domain  which  called  him  "Master!"  He  divined  his 


286  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

patient  wife's  uneasiness.  "  I  wish  we  really  could  get 
farther  from  the  timber  here,  but  the  water  is  our  only 
salvation  for  stock.  That  long  patch  of  elms  and 
mesquit  from  lake  to  lake  gives  too  much  cover  for 
these  cowards."  Silas  was  not  wise  in  his  generation. 
He  eyed  the  dry,  sweeping  knolls  a  few  miles  out,  now 
covered  with  his  cattle  and  horses.  Twenty  years  later 
they  were  blooming  gardens  with  wind-mills  pouring 
the  never-failing  underlying  water  out  freely.  Yet  he 
said:  "  Now,  out  there,  mother,  if  we  had  water,  no 
one  could  approach  us  for  miles  without  discovery.  But 
nothing  ivill  grow  there!  "  He  checked  his  forebod- 
ings, for  his  pale-faced  wife  was  gazing  steadily  down  to 
where  their  brave  young  rider  had  waved  his  knightly 
adieu ! 

"There's  Katie  coming!"  joyousiy  cried  the  reassured 
matron.  For,  with  far-flowing  mane  and  wild  leaps  the 
little  lady's  blood  horse  was  bearing  her  homeward. 
Her  henchmen  followed  fast  behind,  their  broncos  vainly 
coping  with  the  elastic  stride  of  the  gallant  Kentucky 
blood  steed  she  guided  with  her  dainty  hand. 

"She  rides  like  the  wind,"  the  gentle  mother  said, 
But  Mary  Leavenworth  did  not  know  her  spirited 
child  was  murmuring,  as  she  urged  her  horse  forward: 

"  I  hope  the  breeze  will  dry  these  tell-tale  tears.  Xo 
one  must  know." 

It  was  bashful  maiden  art!  For,  as  the  generous 
brother  Jimmy,  after  foldi/ig  her  to  his  breast,  spurred 
away  to  the  head  of  the  column,  whispering,  "  Ten 
minutes  only,  dear  Katie,  happier  days  will  come 
to  us  both  soon !  "  Jack  Manson  had  sprung  to  his  feet 
when  they  were  alone,  and  covered  her  dainty  hands 
with  kisses  as  he  lifted  her  from  the  saddle.  In  his 
strong  arms,  her  head  nestling  upon  his  throbbing  breast, 
the  brave  girl  smiled  through  her  tears  as  her  lover 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  287 

stole  a  wayward  curl  from  the  wind-blown  tresses  of 
the  frontier  princess.  The  dull  forebodings  of  her  heart 
were  hidden  as  she  dropped  in  his  hand  her  one  school- 
girl ring! 

"  You  shall  have  mine  in  return.  I'll  take  yours, 
now7,  Katie,  for  love!  But  you  shall  wear  mine  for 
life." 

"  For  Life  and  Love,"  she  whispered.  "  Now ! "  after 
one  last  embrace,  she  grasped  her  steed's  reins,  as  Jack 
swung  her  to  the  saddle.  Her  blue-veined  hands  were 
bare,  for  he  had  thrust  her  dainty  gauntlets  in  his 
bosom,  and  the  brave  girl  never  turned  her  head,  as  she 
swept  homeward,  for  she  knew  that  Jack  Manson  would 
linger  on  that  hallowed  spot  as  long  as  she  was  near. 
Setting  his  teeth,  as  he  gave  his  captured  steed  a  cut, 
Jack  Manson  dashed  away  on  the  wild  prairie,  to 
rein  up  beside  Katie's  brother.  A  mist,  not  of  the 
dreary  morning,  lingered  in  Jack's  honest  eyes.  His 
heart  was  beating  wildly,  for  the  dearest  voice  on  earth 
had  whispered:  "Come  back  to  me!  Be  watchful 
over  my  brother!  Come  back  and  claim  me  for  Life 
and  Love!" 

In  varied  rides  with  his  associate,  Manson  had 
sketched  and  mapped  in  the  environs  of  the  ranch. 
The  old  Prussian  engineer's  careful  and  exact  maps 
connected  San  Miguel  with  the  exquisite  work  of  the 
coast  survey  at  Corpus  Christi  and  the  Gulf. 

So,  following  the  general  course  dictated  by  the 
sagacious  Silas,  from  his  private  reports  and  the  glean- 
ings of  years  of  expectancy,  Manson,  sketch-book, 
compass,  and  aneroid  at  hand,  was  busied  till  the  set- 
ting sun  saw  them  nearing  an  elm-shaded  spring  in  the 
centre  of  a  mesquit  opening,  two  hundred  yards  in 
diameter.  Before  the  chill  of  evening  settled  over  the 
prairie,  the  camp  was  in  order.  The  twenty  lithe, 


288  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

quiet,  active  riders,  dividing  the  duties  of  guard,  picket, 
stock-herding,  and  wood  and  water  finding,  were  now 
resting  by  the  blazing  camp-fire.  Two  active  Mexi- 
can lads,  and  a  cook  of  the  blackness  of  the  tartarean 
shades,  with  the  dexterity  of  practice,  offered  a  substan- 
tial meal.  Jack  Manson  appreciated  the  delicacy  with 
which  Jimmy  Leavenworth  simply  said :  "  I  know  this 
is  a  new  country  to  you.  I  will  inspect  the  guard !  You 
turn  in  and  have  your  rest."  While  Jack  Manson,  worn 
out  with  repressed  feelings,  with  a  pain  of  parting  which 
was  a  revelation,  muttered  a  prayer  for  the  sweet  girl 
grown  now  so  strangely  dear,  as  his  tired  head  fell  on 
his  blanket  pillow :  stern  Jimmy  Leavenworth,  his  Lone 
Star  revolver  at  his  feet,  gazed  into  the  watch-fire, 
and  saw  in  the  flickering  blaze  the  patrician  face  of 
sweet  Gertrude  Marshall,  far  away,  where  the  old 
oaks  of  Arundel  shaded  her  ancestral  home. 

And  neither  brave  Jimmy  Leavenworth,  alert  and 
soldierly:  watchful  Silas  Leavenworth,  in  his  guarded 
stronghold:  nor  sleeping  Jack  Manson,  could  dream 
that  across  the  harsh  gray  sands,  tearing  through  cactus 
bramble  and  sneaking  through  mesquit  groves,  the 
waiting  riders  were  now  speeding  away  to  tell  Ramon 
Maxan  that  his  prey  was  out  on  the  lonely  wastes. 
For  the  wounded  lad  had  safely  reached  Ximenes,  and, 
dog-like  in  submission,  delivered  his  note,  and  slunk  in 
with  the  aimless  crowd  hanging  around  the  frontier  fan- 
dango house  at  the  squalid  village  of  Los  Angeles. 

Day  after  day  passed,  the  cavalcade  pricking  along 
with  care  over  the  tortuous  line  marked  out  by  Silas 
Leavenworth's  greed  of  land-grabbing.  While  Jack 
Manson,  with  growing  map  and  busy  pencil,  filled  his 
note-books  with  data,  and  stored  his  mind  with  the  pho- 
tographic impressions  of  a  skilled  road- builder,  Jimmy 
Leavenv/orth,  hawk-eyed,  guarded  and  directed  the 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  289 

line  of  march.  Twenty-five  miles  a  day,  over  varied 
scenes — now  canons,  me'sas,  flinty  hillsides,  and  dry 
plains,  breaking  into  broad,  rich  prairies — they  drew  on 
toward  Eagle  Pass. 

A  straggling  clump  of  jacales  (Mexican  dog-like 
huts),  an  abandoned  cattle-camp,  here  and  there  a  ranch 
house  of  adobe,  were  the  only  variations  of  the  scene. 
It  was  in  varied  wind  and  storm,  in  blinding  storm  and 
chilling  norther,  they  pressed  on  to  their  goal.  One 
day,  the  flashing  of  trappings  betrayed  the  approach 
of  a  military  express  of  a  corporal  and  three  men. 

"  This  is  rare  good  luck!  Jack!"  cried  Leavenworth, 
who  was  now  as  brown  as  a  Comanche,  "  I  have  a 
note  here  from  the  commander  at  Fort  Duncan.  Two 
of  the  best  companies  of  the  Fourth  Cavalry  are 
ordered  to  patrol  the  river  between  Eagle  Pass  and 
Ringgold  Barracks.  Lieutenant  Buller  commands  one. 
He's  the  ideal  of  a  frontier  soldier.  He  knows  more 
about  the  Comanches,  Lipans,  and  Kickapoos  than  the 
whole  war  department,  and  he  can  nose  a  desperado,  a 
horse  thief,  or  a  smuggler  a  mile  away.  This  will  be 
a  great  protection  for  our  road-building  and  the  ranch 
and  stock.  Buller  is  the  only  regular  officer  I  ever 
knew  who  was  a  good  frontiersman.  He's  as  game 
as  a  knife  and  a  right  good  fellow.  We'll  ride  into 
Ringgold  on  our  way  down  and  see  him." 

The  corporal  and  his  alert  troopers  trotted  away 
briskly,  not  without  refilled  canteens  and  handfuls  of 
the  best  cigars  of  San  Miguel. 

Two  days  later,  as  Jack  Manson  dreamed,  in  the  sun- 
set, of  the  graceful  girl  who  fled  like  a  Scythian  prin- 
cess from  his  arms,  a  dusty  rider  dashed  into  the  camp. 
It  was  Bronco  Bill.  In  silence  he  handed  Leavenworth 
a  packet  of  letters.  While  friendly  hands  cared  for 
his  horse,  Bill  joined  the  mess  around  the  generous 


290  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

board.  For  the  prairie  deer  and  turkey,  fat  beef  and 
sheep  from  the  countless  herds  passed  through,  gave  a 
larder  to  be  envied.  The  unerring  marksmen  stalked 
the  game  as  they  rode.  With  ready  lasso  and  revolver 
a  beef  fell  before  them  at  need.  The  hide  stretched 
on  the  nearest  tree  or  rock  was  left  as  a  tribute  to 
frontier  hospitality.  Countless  "  mavericks  "  or  strayed 
cattle  were  roaming  at  the  disposition  of  the  travellers, 
and  the  stock  was  almost  as  wild  as  the  gray  wolves 
howling  at  night  around  the  lonely  camp. 

"Anything  for  me?"  queried  Jack,  in  despondency. 

"Nothing  yet,"  his  voice  grave  and  troubled,  as  he 
pored  over  several  documents.  "  I  want  to  talk  to  you 
by  and  by,"  said  the  Texan.  "  Several  suspicious 
things  have  occurred  near  the  ranch,  and  my  father  is 
away  at  New  Orleans.  I'll  send  old  Basilio  in  as  soon 
as  I  can  write.  Bill  has  ridden  up  in  three  days." 
Jack  Manson  turned  away,  his  heart  full.  Was  he 
then  so  soon  forgotten!  He  wandered  away  to  the 
edge  of  the  camp.  A  touch  on  his  elbow  made  him 
start. 

Bronco  Bill  stood  beside  him.  He  held  a  packet  in  his 
outstretched  hand. 

"  Beg  pardon,  captain.  I  was  to  give  you  this  in 
private.  I  hadn't  no  show  till  now.  Miss  Katie's 
orders,  you  know,  sir.  Must  obey  the  ladies !  " 

With  rough  courtesy  the  plainsman  was  gone.  And 
Jack  Manson  knew  that  the  proud  and  shy  woman  who 
had  given  him  her  impetuous  love,  sought  to  shield  its 
avowal  from  all  but  the  eyes  of  the  chosen  lover  of  her 
heart!  "Katie!"  The  very  name  thrilled  his  heart. 
And  fingering  the  pages,  he  sought  the  one  shelter- 
tent  to  read  the  precious  lines  and  await  the  Texan's 
confidence.  • 

It   was   half  an   hour  before  Jack  raised  his  headt 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  29! 

Every  word  of  his  darling's  womanly  confidence  was 
clearly  fixed  in  his  mind.  Each  girlish  phrase  of  love 
and  endearment  thrilled  his  lover  heart.  The  perfume 
of  the  flower  of  love,  the  growth  of  one  happy  day  of 
magic  power,  intoxicated  the  youth  who  had  fed  "  on 
the  honey-dews  of  Paradise."  Yet  his  brow  was  clouded, 
for  the  clear-headed  Texas  maiden  had  written: 

For  my  sake,  for  Life  and  Love,  dearest,  be  ever  on  your  guard! 
Father  and  Nordenskiold  are  gone  to  New  Orleans  to  perfect 
the  railroad  bonds.  He  had  telegrams  from  your  uncle;  also, 
from  Senator  Steele.  Jimmy  will  tell  you  all.  But  the  boy  who 
was  wounded  at  the  canon  has  disappeared.  1  fear  treachery. 
Some  lurking  parties  have  been  chased  away  by  our  stockmen. 
1  do  not  wish  to  alarm  mother  or  Alice.  The  ranch,  of  course,  is 
safe.  We  have  fifty  armed  men  here  always.  But  I  fear  they 
may  cut  in  behind  you.  I  dread  your  return  journey.  For  my 
sake,  beware!  I  can  not  bear  to  walk  here  in  safety  and  think  of 
your  dangers.  I  am  sleepless  for  your  sake!  Never  forget  these 
words!  Colonel  Tom  Bayard  can  not  take  charge  of  the  ranch 
for  these  two  weeks,  as  he  is  closing  his  business  at  Brownsville, 
at  the  District  Court,  and  will  come  home  by  Ringgold  Barracks. 
You  may  meet  him.  Alice  is  in  ecstasy,  dear  old  solemn  angel, 
for  Colonel  Tom  has  arranged  with  father  that  their  marriage 
will  occur  as  soon  as  possible.  The  Colonel  is  State  Senator,  and 
will  look  after  all  father's  interests  at  Houston  this  winter.  His 
pay  is  "nothing"  for  Alice  is  all  he  wants.  She  will  be  a  star  at 
our  Texas  capital,  and,  so  timid  as  she  is,  will  be  happier  there. 
1  am  glad  at  heart  that  Bayard's  ranch  is  so  much  farther  from  the 
Rio  Grande  than  ours.  Alice  needs  a  safe  home  and  a  protector. 

Jack's  eyes  fell  on  Leavenworth,  whose  face  was 
stern  as  a  Roman  sentinel, 

"Come  here,  Jack,"  he  said,  and  the  friends  paced 
by  the  dying  fire  in  soul  communion.  Around  them 
lay  their  fearless  guards,  and  now  and  then  a  wary 
rider,  swathed  in  his  Navajo  blanket,  circled  the  camp, 
for  the  night  was  chill  and  the  rising  wind  began  to 
howl  over  the  prairie. 


292  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Manson  was  soon  a  partner  of  all  Jimmy  Leaven- 
worth's  news  and  feelings;  he  was  sad  and  depressed 
as  he  finished. 

"What's  the  matter,  Jimmy?"  said  Jack  tentatively. 
"No  bad  news — from  Virginia?"  He  laid  his  friendly 
hand  on  the  Texan's  shoulder. 

Jimmy  turned,  his  voice  softened  with  emotion.  "  It's 
about  Gertrude,  you  know.  I  may  never  get  Mrs. 
Marshall's  consent  to  bring  her  here  to  the  Rio  Grande. 
I  have  letters  from  both  of  them.  She's  a  strange 
girl.  Her  brother's  and  father's  deaths  have  shadowed 
her  womanhood.  Her  loving  heart  is  centered  on  those 
she  cherishes  as  dear.  She  is  almost  clairvoyant  now. 
She  writes  me  of  an  awful  vision!  It  is  all  born  of  her 
anxiety  over  this  trip  and  this  project.  How  can  such 
a  woman  ever  be  happy  here,  even  with  the  luxury  of 
San  Miguel?  I  cannot  avoid  these  dangerous  trips. 
Half  my  time  must  be  spent  on  the  border.  I  can  not 
shirk  the  risks  and  duties  of  my  position;  I  must  stand 
by  my  father.  As  for  flinching  from  the  duties  of 
Texan  life  I  will  not.  I  would  be  sneered  at  as  a  cow- 
ard. Jack,"  he  said,  with  impulsive  energy,  "  if  I  lose 
that  girl,  I  will  blow  my  brains  out!'''' 

Manson  grasped  his  hands.  "And  if  she  loses  you, 
it  will  kill  her!-  Think  of  that!  Now,  my  dear 
Jimmy,  it  is  this  rising  norther,  and  the  news  of  the 
second-sight  business  unsettles  your  nerves!  Take  a 
good  pull  of  coffee  and  you  will  be  all  right  at  day- 
break." The  cowboy  coffee-pot  was  ever  in  requi- 
sition, and  Manson  signed  to  the  colored  boy,  who 
never  slept  while  his  young  master  was  on  foot. 

Rolled  in  his  blankets,  as  the  wind  rose,  and  the  keen, 
icy  blast  cut  like  a  knife,  Leavenworth  told  Manson  of 
the  loving  Virginia  girl's  vision :  "  Strange  forebodings! 
Woman's  mysterious  double  nature  is  life's  riddle!  She 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  293 

sees  me,  you,  and  strangers,  in  a  far-away  hostile  haunt. 
Katie,  too,  is  there!  And  soldiers  and  fighting."  His 
voice  was  sacf. 

"And  the  outcome?"  broke  in  Manson,  who  wished 
to  energetically  dispel  this  cloud. 

"Always  the.  same!  I  am  lying  in  the  arms  of  a 
strangly  beautiful  woman,  and — and  dying!"  Leaven- 
worth  was  silent  a  moment.  "  And  her  mother,"  he 
resumed,  "writes  me  privately  that  this  vision  always 
haunts  Gertie,  whose  dear  face  is  transparent  as  alabaster. 
Her  singular  mind  recurs  to  this,  and  struggles  through 
the  clouds  to  see  the  rest  of  this  devil-painted  picture! 
She  wears  her  vital  force  out.  But  all  is  dark  beyond 
that!  Mrs.  Marshall  begs  me  to  break  this  morbid 
spell  cast  on  her  by  coming  North.  She  says  Arundel 
House  shall  be  my  future  home.  I  have  wealth,  you 
know,  Jack.  It  is  not  that.  I  can  not  abandon  my 
father  in  this  great  project.  I  know  his  credit  and 
vour  uncle's  is  involved.  As  for  living  North — impos- 
sible! I  could  make  San  Miguel  safe,  but  will  her 
mother  give  her  to  me?  Could  she  live  among  such 
daily  scenes  as  you  have  had  glimpses  of?"  His  voice 
died  away,  and  only  the  sound  of  the  sobbing  blast  was 
heard. 

"  Leavenworth,  you  must  rouse  yourself.  This  is 
mere  delusion,"  said  Jack  with  vigor.  "  Why,  look 
at  the  other  side  of  the  picture!  In  three  months  Alice 
will  be  Tom  Bayard's  wife.  He  will  guard  the  west 
and  north.  Our  road,  if  pushed,  closes  up,  with  its 
telegraph,  the  south  and  east.  The  opening  toward 
the  frontier  will  be  guarded  by  the  road  itself.  You 
have  told  me  McNally's  Rangers  and  your  cavalry 
friends  will  be  scouring  the  desert  strip  here  for  months. 
It  will  be  a  general  'round  up.'  I  will  have  strong 
working  parties  out  at  once,  if  the  road  is  pushed,  and 


294  pOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

you  shall  ride  the  Rio  Grande  no  more."  Jack  Manson 
paused,  and  said,  with  softened  tone:  "When  I  win 
Katie,  you  shall  be  made  to  obey  our  'wishes!  Take 
your  station  then  at  San  Miguel,  and  run  the  whole 
thing.  Your  father  is  getting  old." 

"That's  all  true!"  moodily  replied  Jimmy,  "but  he 
has  a  dozen  private  schemes  and  connections  I  know 
little  of.  They  are  legacies  of  the  war.  He  will  not 
give  them  up  till  some  great  disaster  occurs.  I  have 
always  feared  it." 

"  I  see  that  you  really  could  not  settle  in  Virginia," 
said  Jack,  wishing  to  divert  his  friend's  mind  from  the 
haunting  vision. 

"  You  and  Tom  Bayard  could  easily  manage  the 
estate,  but  I  would  not  live  under  Northern  influence. 
Virginia  is  only  a  lonely  graveyard.  The  fact  is, 
Jack,  the  North  must  have  us  as  a  counterpoise  to 
foreign  influence,  for  socialism  and  anarchy  will  follow 
your  throwing  open  your  ports  to  the  men  who  shot 
down  native-born  Americans  to  gain  your  '  bounty '1 
I'm  not  bitter,  but  I  will  give  you  a  few  plain  truths. 
No  commercial,  trading,  and  manufacturing  nation  ever 
kept  pure  blood.  I'm  no  aristocrat!  But  the  woman  I 
love  is  patrician  born.  Now  here,  our  family  take 
rank  in  the  higher  classes.  We  are  farmers,  planters, 
drovers,  herdsmen,  and  horsemen !  We  do  not  look  to 
the  slow  returns  of  manual  labor,  to  the  petty  tricks  of 
trade,  the  shifts  of  capitalistic  and  skilled-labor  strug- 
gles. We  have  a  patient,  docile,  secondary  race,  the 
negro.  He  serves  us.  He  shall.  He  must  I  All  your 
reconstruction  and  carpet-bag  governments  will  fall  of 
their  own  weight.  Once  in  the  higher  classes,  lauded 
and  socially  recognized,  a  man  is  held  up  here.  At  the 
North,  changing  turns  of  fortune's  wheel  make  the 
servants  of  one  generation  the  mistresses  of  another! 


FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE.  295 

Your  alien  classes,  robust,  hard-working,  and  clannish, 
eat  into  your  political  circles.  They  breed  and  save ! 
You  ivaste,  and  in  Yankee  egoism,  dread  large  families. 
Your  great  centres  of  population  thrust  all  real  Amer- 
ican feeling  ouj:  of  your  circles,  your  marts,  your 
journals,  and  your  homes. 

"Deny  it  as  you  may,  you  worship  the  dollar! 
You  truckle  to  it,  you  flatter  it,  you  marry  it!  Your 
German,  Irish,  Hebrews,  and  other  foreigners  are 
toadied  to  in  business,  flattered  in  your  elections,  and  we 
native  born  must  yet  overthrow  your  temporary  control 
of  the  heritage  we  were  all  born  to.  In  twenty  years 
these  swarming  people  will  fill  the  cheap  lands  of  the 
West.  We  don't  want  them  South.  We  will  not  have 
them.  We  will  work  together  in  opposition!  Strange 
as  it  may  seem,  the  sons  of  the  rebels  of  Appomattox 
will  be  truer  friends,  wiser  sons  of  loyalty  and  liberty 
than  your  '  truly  loyal '  freedom  shriekers. 

"  Wounded  and  bleeding,  we  need  no  help.  We 
scorn  your  pity.  States'  rights  we  bled  for.  We 
hold  sternly  to  State  pride.  You  give  your  daintily- 
bred  daughters  to  the  man  of  the  dollar.  We  marry 
in  our  own  race  and  blood.  Decade  by  decade  the 
South  will  quietly  gain.  Backed  by  our  prolific  and 
docile  negroes,  we  will  control  the  land  from  Rich- 
mond, Louisville,  and  St.  Louis  to  Denver  and  El  Paso. 

"  The  Southern  Cross  will  be  firmly  fastened  in  our 
country's  flag,  when  the  East,  North,  and  West,  torn 
by  your  quarrels  of  capital  and  labor,  millionaires  and 
anarchists,  may  fall  away  from  the  Union!  The  North 
will  be  the  home  of  every  'ism'  that  greed,  craft, 
fraud,  and  socialism  can  invent.  You  are  pledged  to  it 
by  your  political  adherence  to  the  «  social  equality  of 
man.'  It  filled  your  Northern  armies,  but  it  will  ruin 
the  Union  yet "  A  fusillade  waked  the  echoes! 


296  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  My  God!"  yelled  Leavemvorth,  as  a  volley  of 
bullets  tore  through  the  tent.  Louder  than  the  howling 
of  the  storm  the  crack  of  Winchester  rifles  roused 
the  indomitable  Texans. 

"Don't  get  up!  I'll  give  the  word,"  sharply  cried 
Jimmy,  pushing  Manson  a  rifle.  "  They  are  shooting 
high." 

Rolling  over  behind  the  blankets,  the  two  comrades 
opened  fire  on  the  copses  whence  the  volley  had  come. 
A  chorus  of  defiant  yells  rang  out  as  Leavenworth's 
men,  from  behind  the  wagon,  or  with  bended  knee, 
rained  a  platoon  fire  into  the  bushes  right  and  left. 

"  Xow,  Jack!"  cried  Jimmy,  springing  out.  A  knot 
of  brave  riders  was  already  formed  behind  the  wagon. 
The  firing  was  over.  The  camp  was  a  hornet's  nest! 
The  attack  had  failed ! 

"  Xo  danger  now.  These  scoundrels  never  run  in," 
laughed  the  young  Texan.  "  Here,  Walton,  a  half- 
dozen  of  you,  scatter  this  fire, "  and  the  Cowboys  ener- 
getically kicked  the  smouldering  brands  over  the 
prairie. 

"  No  pursuit!  "  sharply  said  Leaven  worth,  as  his  two 
leading  scouts  sat  ready  to  lead  the  riders  into  the 
chaparral.  "The  dead  vi\\\  be  there  in  the  morning. 
The  living'  are  a  half-mile  away  now.  Double  the 
guard.  Let  all  lie  on  their  arms.  Any  one  hurt?  " 

In  five  minutes  the  damage  was  found  to  consist  of 
several  wounded  animals,  one  or  two  slight  flesh 
wounds  to  a  couple  of  the  videttes,  and  the  well-riddled 
tent-fly  covering  the  comrades. 

As  Leavenworth  lay  resting,  his  head  pillowed  on 
his  saddle,  behind  the  wagon,  Manson  was  near  him. 
The  wind  rose  to  an  icy  gale,  yet  no  fire  was  lit.  Its 
tell-tale  gleam  had  betrayed  their  location. 

"  Indians  or  Mexicans?"  queried  the  young  comman- 
der, of  the  head  herdsman. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  297 

"  Mexicans,  d — n  them !  "  sententiously  said  the  dis- 
gruntled Cowboy ;  «  I'll ."  He  did  not  finish  his 

imprecation,  as  he  walked  away  in  disgust  at  the 
sneaking  wolves  of  night. 

The  heir  of  San  Miguel  never  concluded  .the  political 
harangue,  to  which  Jack  Manson  had  listened  in  patience. 
His  charmed  life  was  safe  from  loyal  Jack's  outraged 
Republicanism.  He  was  Katie's  brother. 

"Hello!  what's  this?  It  was  a  close  call!"  Jimmy's 
hands  were  warmed  by  a  trickling  stream  from  his 
temple.  "Just  grazed  me!  I'm  glad  my  head's  all 
right." 

"  Well,  your  heart  is,  anyway,"  said  Manson,  cheer- 
fully. "  That's  in  Virginia !  " 

"Jack,"  replied  Leavenworth  seriously,  "we  are  fol- 
lowed on  your  account  alone!  That  volley  was  aimed 
at  our  tent.  Some  devil  knew  we  two  would  be  there; 
that's  why  I  yelled  not  to  rise.  You  can  always  see 
better  and  shoot  safer  from  the  ground.  If  we  had 
jumped  up,  one  of  us  might  have  got  his  billet,  or  both ! 
You  saw  that  my  men  fought  'coyote  fashion';  I  will 
fool  these  devils.  I  will  light  a  half-dozen  camp-fires 
after  this.  I  will  put  two  or  three  men  in  ambush  near 
them ;  we  will  pitch  no  tent,  and  I  will  cover  our  main 
body  in  some  hollow  or  little  arroyo.  Besides,  I  will 
send  old  Basilic  down  to  Laredo.  He  can  telegraph 
from  there  to  Mrs.  Marshall  that  we  are,  so  far,  safe. 
The  ladies  can  laugh  at  the  vision.  I  will  send  a  dis- 
patch to  Buller  and  McNally  to  look  out  for  these 
fellows.  Besides,  if.  Basilic  meets  ,Tom  Bayard  on  his 
way  back,  I  will  ask  the  Colonel  to  join  me  abreast  of 
Las  Cuevas,  and  we  will  scout  the  country  back 
together.  Old  Basilio  can  rest,  and  ride  back  to  tell  us 
of  Tom's  march;  he  has  a  dozen  picked  men  with 
him."  The  wearied  speaker  slept  heavily  after  the 
exciting  episode. 


298  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

As  soon  as  the  gray  dawn  made  it  light,  Leaven- 
worth  was  astir.  Dividing  his  party  into  four  strong 
bands,  the  circling  bushes  were  searched.  Shouts  and 
yells  announced  the  finding  of  two  saddled  horses  tan- 
gled in  the  bushes  by  the  trailing  gear,  and,  staring  up 
from  the  sward  by  the  now  blazing  fire,  where  the 
servants  hastened  the  morning  meal,  the  stiffened  corpses 
of  two  villainous-looking  Mexicans  lay,  wide-eyed  and 
cold. 

"Just  as  I  told  you,  Jack!  From  the  other  side;  no 
one  knows  them.  Now,  I'll  get  the  dispatches  ready 
while  the  men  break  camp."  Leavenworth's  stiffened 
fingers  could  hardly  hold  the  pencil,  for  the  roughened 
coats  of  the  horses,  the  whimpering  of  the  negro  serv- 
ants, and  the  sullen  movements  of  the  blanketed  riders, 
proved  how  bitter  was  the  norther,  now  at  its  height. 
A  cold  line  of  ice  seemed  to  mark  every  bone  of  the 
exposed  plainsmen.  From  their  concealment,  whisky 
canteens  were  suddenly  produced,  and  gallons  of  steam- 
ing coffee  followed  these  "morning  nips." 

"The  needle  is  dancing  so  I  can't  do  anything  till 
the  wind  calms  down,"  said  the  engineer. 

"All  right,  Jack!  I'll  move  camp  to  the  best  place, 
post  some  sitting  guards,  and  we  will  wait  till  this  blows 
over.  I'm  sorry,  for  we  are  short  of  rations,  and  these 
terrible  northers  are  often  followed  by  floods." 

Jimmy  Leavenworth  selected  a  choice  horse  for  Don 
Basilio,  who  received,  in  Spanish  jargon,  his  orders. 
Carefully  secreting  his  letters  in  a  buckskin  band  he 
wore  in  lieu  of  'undergarment,  with  a  couple  of 
fresh  rounds  of  cartridges,  a  flask  of  whisky,  a  box  of 
matches,  a  few  yards  of  dried  beef  in  strings,  and  his 
Navajo  blanket  tied  behind  his  saddle,  the  old  servitor 
lightly  touched  the  rowels  to  his  bounding  steed  and 
was  soon  lost  on  the  prairie.  His  mournful  eyes  never 


FOR   LIFE    AND   LOVE.  299 

moved,  as  with  a  corn-husk  cigarette  defying  even  the 
wild  norther,  Basilio  struck  forth,  in  Indian  style,  trav- 
elling so  he  could  not  be  seen  from  a  distance. 

"  There  he  goes!  Wherever  a  weasel,  fox,  or  a  tiger 
can  go,  old  Basilio  is  safe.  He  is  the  best  plainsman  in 
Texas  next  to  Rip  Ford !  Now  we'll  move  camp." 

Manson  sprang  on  his  captured  steed  and  the  com- 
mand moved  out  to  a  spot  selected  by  Leavenworth. 

"What  has  become  of  the  bodies?"  said  Jack,  as  a 
half-hour  later  they  lay  at  ease  in  one  of  a  half-dozen 
quickly  made  "wick-i-up"  brush  shelters. 

"  The  wolves  and  coyotes  are  the  guardians  of  that 
valuable  property,"  said  Leavenworth  grimly.  "  The 
strangers  came  to  my  camp  uninvited.  I  left  it  to 
them." 

From  the  knolls  near  them  four  men  watched,  rifle  in 
hand,  the  approaches  to  the  new  camp.  A  careful  ride 
around  the  new  position  had  enabled  the  now  doubly 
watchful  friends  to  prevent  a  recurrence  of  either  sur- 
prise or  covert  attack. 

Toward  noon  the  fierce,  chilling  wind,  which  had 
driven  the  stray  cattle  for  miles  into  huddled  bands 
crouching  in  dell  and  arroyo,  suddenly  flickered,  fell,  and 
finally  ceased.  From  the  northwest  a  growing  patch 
of  dark  clouds  drove  down  rapidly.  An  unearthly 
hush  replaced  the  hissing  wailing  of  the  dry,  icy  norther! 

"  I  am  afraid  we  are  in  for  it,"  gravely  remarked  Leav- 
enworth,as  he  ordered  the  spare  rations,  ammunition,  and 
heavier  arms  to  be  stored  in  the  one  wagon  with  its 
heavy  cover.  Before  "slickers"  and  rubber  " ponchos" 
were  adjusted,  a  perfect  cloud-burst  broke  around  them. 
The  far  summits  of  the  Monterey  Mountains  folded 
themselves  in  gray  mantles  of  thick,  wet,  gray  fog,  and 
the  winding  course  of  the  island-dotted  Rio  Grande, 
with  its  cottonwood  groves,  its  elm,  and  maple-shaded 


3OO  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

banks,  was  veiled  from  them  by  torrents  of  blinding 
rain.  One  straggling  fire  alone  was  kept  up  under  a 
jutting  rock  where  busy  hands  had  piled  a  huge  mound 
of  dry  mesquit  and  fallen  scrub  oak. 

"Only  two  days  from  Eagle  Pass,  and  in  these 
times  when  I  should  be  at  the  ranch!  This  is  dread- 
ful ! "  chafed  the  Texan,  as  he  folded  his  rubber  cloak 
closer  under  the  shot-riddled  tent-fly.  "  If  you  had  tied 
your  line  on  to  the  Boundary  Commission's  monuments 
at  Eagle  Pass,  we  might  scout  quickly  down  in  a  circle, 
and  swing  back  toward  the  ranch.  I  could  show  you 
the  route,  even  in  a  storm." 

"That's  true!"  replied  Jack,  though  the  rain  was' 
pouring  from  his  frontier  head-gear.  "  But  I  must 
keep  up  the  chaining,  sketching,  and  road-measuring, 
with  our  odometer.  I  can  easily  lay  down  a  railroad 
where  anyone  can  drive  a  wagon  without  locking 
wheel  or  using  brakes.  The  first  hundred  miles  is 
as  level  as  a  parlor  floor,  and,  even  here,  a  few  turns 
will  pass  any  obstacle  so  far.  But  I  must  be  able  to 
make  a  handsome,  completed  map,  and  secure  the  gen- 
eral advantages,  as  well  as  length  of  route  your  father 
has  dictated." 

"  We  may  be  here  a  week,"  ruefully  replied  Leaven- 
worth.  "  If  we  had  a  schooner,  we  could  sail  almost  to 
Eagle  Pass  in  the  waters  of  these  rolling  pockets." 

Five  days  later,  chilled,  stiffened,  and  benumbed,  the 
party  were  still  beleaguered  by  flood,  swollen  streams, 
and  impassable  arroyos.  The  violence  of  the  tempest 
was  beyond  memory,  and  scanty  rations  of  coffee  with- 
out sugar,  dough  cakes  baked  in  the  ashes,  and  the  half- 
cooked  flesh  of  the  straved  cattle,  were  the  only  means 
of  subsistence.  Manson  and  Leavenworth  had  relapsed 
into  a  gloomy  silence.  Each  harbored  anxieties  and 
cares  which  wrapped  him  as  a  mantle.  It  was, 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  30! 

indeed,  a  cheerless  camp.  The  drenched  cattle,  hover- 
ing near,  became  too  weak  and  chilled  to  fly  from  the 
men  groping  through  rain  and  knee-deep  water-pools 
to  put  a  bail  through  the  unresisting  bovines.  On  the 
morning  of  the  sixth  day,  the  sun  at  last  broke  through 
its  veiling  clouds.  Far  and  dim,  the  exquisite  profile  of 
the  Monterey  range  hovered  in  the  dim  blue  air. 

"  It  will  take  us  a  day  to  dry  out  our  camp,  and  I 
shall  now  send  eight  men,  with  pack  animals,  over 
to  San  Pedro  Springs.  We  must  have  flour,  coffee, 
sugar,  and  bacon.  It's  only  eighteen  miles  north!" 
So  joyously  spoke  Leavenworth,  his  good  humor 
returning.  As  the  men  briskly  trotted  away,  Jimmy 
turned  to  Manson:  "Now,  Mr.  Engineer,  run  your 
work  into  Eagle  Pass  as  soon  as  you  wish.  I  will  lead 
you  a  dance  down  the  valley,  on  our  return,  that  you 
will  never  forget.  I  feel  that  I  am  needed  at  the 
ranch." 

By  dusk,  the  return  of  the  messengers  gladdened  all 
hearts.  By  the  blazing  fires,  the  good  cheer  and  fra- 
grant coffee  enlivened  all.  Tobacco,  man's  best  friend 
on  the  march,  reappeared,  and  the  replenished  canteens 
circulated  gaily,  as  the  men  drank  "adieu  to  Camp 
Calamity." 

"  There  is  no  use  to  deny  that  we  are  under  some 
shadow  of  bad  luck !"  growled  Leavenworth,  as  he  closed 
the  first  decent  repast  of  the  weary  days.  "  Walton  tells 
me  that  the  military  express  rider,  passing  San  Pedro 
Springs  for  the  Pass,  warned  everyone  the  whole  lower 
border  is  swarming  with  horse  thieves,  desperadoes,  and 
roving  Mexicans,  gathering  up  stock  and  horses  strayed 
south,  driven  before  the  great  storm.  They  have  killed 
several  well-known  citizens.  We  must  break  camp  at 
peep  of  day,  and  only  rest  and  refit  a  single  day  at  the 
Pass." 


302  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  You  will  find  me  sharp  for  work,"  cheerfully 
answered  Manson.  "  Then,  my  boy,  we'll  see  if  any 
Texan  can  do  better  than  an  old  plainsman  of  the 
North  in  a  forced  march  home." 

The  friends  sought  their  brotherly  bivouac-couch, 
and  while  the  moon  sailed  high  above  the  tranquil 
scene,  only  the  boom  of  the  prairie  owl,  or  the  hoarse 
yell  of  a  snarling  gray  wolf,  broke  the  stillness  of  the 
night.  Through  the  softened  night  a  single  swarthy 
horseman  rode  along  toward  Las  Cuevas  at  full  gallop 
over  the  sandy  sward  from  which  the  waters  had  dis- 
appeared as  if  by  magic. 

"I  wonder  what  the  Jaguar's  game  is?"  the  half- 
breed  spy  murmured,  as  he  drove  the  rowels  in  with 
Mexican  ferocity.  For  he  had  sighted  the  distant  hut, 
whence  a  fresh  messenger  would  bear  on  the  tidings 
that  the  "  Gringos "  had  broken  camp  to  push  into 
Eagle  Pass  at  last.  "  Well!  I'll  soon  know  if  he  crosses 
with  fifty  men.  Carajo!  There  is  always  fandango 
and  aguadiente,  monte,  and  pretty  women  after  El 
Jaguar  works  a  scheme.  He  treats  us  like  a  royal 
'coutrabandista.'  But  he  is  risky.  So  risky,  that  some 
day  these  'diablos,  los  Tejanos'  will  wipe  us  all  out!" 

While  the  dark-browed  villain  rode,  pistol  in  hand, 
and  the  heart  brothers  waited  in  their  distant  camp 
for  the  dawn,  Ramon  Maxan  sat  in  a  vaulted  room  in 
the  great  old  rumbling  stone  hacienda  which  called 
him  its  lord.  In  the  midst  of  splendid  groves  and 
bowers,  in  the  rich  foot-hills  of  the  Monterey  hills,  it 
overlooked  the  little  town  of  Zacate.  No  fairer  bower 
nestled  in  rich  Nueva  Leon  than  this  splendid  old  two- 
story  mansion.  Around  it  spicy  groves  and  orchards 
breathed  their  budding  richness.  The  heart  of  the 
Zona  Libre  is  a  paradise  of  natural  beauty. 

The  moonlight  streamed  in  from  an  open  window, 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  303 

heavily  grated,  and  the  sound  of  a  woman's  voice, 
ringing  high  above  the  tinkle  of  a  guitar,  floated  in, 
borne  by  the  night  breeze. 

"It  is  a  royal  spot,"  mused  Maxan,  as  he  pushed 
back  a  map  and  strode  to  the  window.  "Old  Juarez 
was  right  to  kick  the  Churchmen  out  of  these  splendid 
places!  They  surely  found  snug  nests  for  their  retire- 
ment. I  wonder  if  my  predecessor,  the  Bishop,  ever 
enjoyed  secular  music  here!  Who  knows!  Very  likely 
some  fair  one  queened  it  here  before  Panchita.  Ah, 
yes!  I  must  tell  her  some  convincing  pack  of  lies. 
Why  does  the  report  not  come?  If  I  had  it,  I  would 
leave  at  daybreak.  It's  hard  to  keep  fifty  cut-throats 
quiet,  even  in  luxury.  Let  me  see." 

El  Jaguar  turned  to  his  maps  again.  Seated  at 
the  table,  the  high  intelligence  of  his  nature  shone  in 
his  delicately  chiselled  face.  His  dark  eyes  beamed 
with  earnestness  and  he  was  the  ideal  of  supple  ele- 
gance, as  he  gracefully  tossed  off  a  "petit  verre"  and 
lit  a  regalia.  His  green  jacket,  buttoned  with  golden 
half-ounces,  rich  leggings,  and  crimson  silken  sash, 
marked  the  man  of  highest  local  rank.  A  pair  of 
richly  chased  silver  spurs,  a  revolver  belt,  and  the 
bullion-decorated  gray  sombrero  lay  on  a  table  near, 
with  a  heavy  loaded  riding-whip.  On  the  tiled  floor 
lay  a  saddle,  bridle,  and  housings,  fit  for  a  knight  at  the 
Field  of  the  Cloth  of  Gold.  With  a  score  of  armed 
retainers,  a  troop  of  servants,  and  a  village  nestling 
under  his  heavy-walled  castle,  Ramon  Maxan,  in  a 
stolen  hacienda,  lorded  it  over  a  horde  of  devil-may- 
care  bandits,  watching  great  flocks  and  herds  of  the 
choicest  animals,  stolen  from  even  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory, and  passed  on  by  criminal  and  smuggler. 

"Now,"  he  soliloquized,  "eighty  miles  to  Fort  Dun- 
can, forty  to  Laredo,  twenty  to  Las  Cuevas  and  the 


304  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE, 

Rio  Grande,  and  only  ninety  miles  from  the  border 
to  San  Miguel.  Those  two  curs  are  at  Eagle  Pass, 
two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  away.  I  can  easily  hide 
my  party  in  the  cactus  groves  on  the  edge  of  the  bad 
lands.  If  I  sneak  in  with  ten  men,  I  can  keep  covered 
in  the  lake  woods  near  the  ranch.  The  old  man  is  still 
at  New  Orleans,  with  no  sign  of  return.  Thank  God 
for  the  telegraph!  If  I  can  grab  the  girl,  I  can  have 
her  run  over  here;  she's  safe  then  as  in  the  grave. 
Then,  with  my  whole  party,  push  up  the  valley,  take 
the  band  of  Caballo  Blanco  from  Los  Angeles,  and 
waylay  those  two  fellows.  Madre  de  Dios!  It  will 
do!  They  have  four  miles  to  travel  to  my  one.  I 
will  have  five  men  to  their  one.  They  will  be  off  their 
guard.  I'll  bring  these  fellows'  heads  over  here.  That 
proud  devil  shall  say 'Good-morning'  to  her  lover's 
head!  And  I'll  make  Panchita  tame  her  down  if  I  can 
excite  her  jealousy.  By  God !  if  the  messenger — "  he 
paused  and  smiled,  for  the  clatter  of  a  horse's  hoofs 
waked  the  echoes  of  the  paseo. 

"Send  him  up,  Antonio,"  Maxan  called  out,  as  the 
major-domo  entered.  In  five  minutes  Ramon  el 
Jaguar  had  read  his  dispatches,  dismissed  the  tired  rider, 
and  sharply  said :  "  I  leave  at  daybreak,  Antonio ! 
Have  every  man  ready !  I'll  tie  up  any  man  who  is 
not  ready  for  the  road ! " 

"  Bueno,  Senor,"  said  a  shaven  man  of  middle  age, 
whose  eyes  burned  steadily  with  restrained  intelligence. 

"  By  the  way,  Antonio,  send  word  in  to  Senorita  Pan- 
chita that  I  am  coming  to  see  her." 

The  major-domo  bowed  in  silence. 

"  A  cool  devil !  They  spoiled  a  first-class  bandit 
when  he  became  a  hanger-on  of  the  priests.  I  can  trust 
him  to  hold  this  place,  at  any  rate.  Now,  for  Miss 
Panchita,  then  for  my  revenge ! "  He  shook  his  fists 


FOR   LIFE    AND    LOVE.  305 

in  rage.  "  I'll  make  you  feel  the  tiger's  claws,  proud 
Katie!"  His  cheek  still  burned  where  Manson's  blow 
had  marred  its  beauty !  "  And  I'll  have  his  heart's 
blood!" 

Striding  through  a  long  corridor,  he  pushed  aside  the 
curtains  from  the  door  of  a  richly  furnished  room. 
A  woman  leapt  to  her  feet.  The  exquisite  form  of 
the  young  beauty  was  accentuated  by  the  clinging 
white  robe  she  wore.  Deep,  rich,  dark,  burning 
Spanish  eyes,  a  cheek  crimsoned  with  the  glow  of 
excitement  tinting  its  faintly  shaded  olive,  and  silken 
hair  flowing  in  jetty  waves  to  her  shoulders,  gave  her 
the  air  of  a  queen,  as  her  slender  hand,  flashing  with 
jewels,  clasped  a  heavy  golden  cross,  rising  and  falling 
on  her  panting  bosom. 

"I  am  going  away,  Panchita!  I  leave  at  daybreak. 
I  shall  be  away  two  weeks.  Antonio  will  tell  you  the 
rest.  I  have  much  to  do.  I  came  to  say  adios!"  His 
voice  had  the  callous  ring  of  indifference,  for  his  blood 
burned  within  him  to  be  on  the  road!  Revenge  was 
near  at  last!  He  slowly  moved  toward  the  door,  as 
the  startled  woman  spoke  in  a  dull,  hopeless  voice: 

"And  our  marriage — your  promise?  "  She  leaned 
forward  in  eagerness. 

"  Later,  when  I  come  back !  There's  always  time  for 
that,"  Maxan  sneered,  as  he  noted  her  defiant  mien. 
She  dropped  into  a  chair  without  a  word.  The  hand- 
some Creole's  face  darkened.  "  Another  fit  of 
heroics."  He  threw  aside  the  curtain  and  sought  his 
room.  At  early  dawn,  armed  to  the  teeth,  he  led  his 
waiting  cut-throats,  by  an  easy  defile,  to  the  Rio 
Grande.  As  he  rode  down  the  gorge  he  never  turned 
his  head  to  where  Panchita  lay  in  the  slumber  into 
which  she  had  fallen  in  sobs  and  tears. 

The  Jaguar  was  on   the  trail  at    last.     His  resolute 


306  FOR    LIFE    AND    I.OVE. 

mind  was  fixed  on  the  blood-red  star  of  Creole  honor — 
Revenge!  As  brave  as  cruel,  he  recked  not  of  the  stal- 
wart foes  in  front.  As  cruel  as  brave,  he  cared  not  for 
Panchita,  the  white  blossom  languishing  in  his  harem 
prison ! 

As  he  dashed  along  at  the  head  of  his  plunder-thirsty 
fellows,  an  ingenious  thought  came  to  his  mind.  "  I'll 
hoodwink  that  cross-grained  devil,  Panchita.  When  I 
come  back  I'll  make  Antonio  marry  us.  I  will  swear 
that  he  is  a  priest.  He  knows  enough  of  their  jargon  to 
outwit  her.  She  is  capable  of  anything  if  aroused. 
She  might  try  her  hand  at  some  of  the  Aztec  poison  on 
me.  These  romantic  girls  always  have  some  old 
beldame  crooning  their  deviltry  slyly  into  love-sick 
minds." 

With  the  skill  of  an  old  captain  of  free  lances 
Maxan  led  his  lean  followers  on  like  sleuth-hounds,  to 
sneak  across  the  Rio  Grande  before  dark.  The  first 
cactus  grove,  the  nearest  mesquit  thicket,  would  cover 
his  movements,  until  in  the  darkness,  under  guidance 
of  his  well-trained  desperadoes,  he  could  push  forward 
to  gain  a  lodgment  near  San  Miguel. 

"  There's  a  dozen  here  who  have  worked  at  the 
ranch  as  refugees  from  our  revolutionary  troubles  or 
while  dodging  across  to  save  punishment.  I  am  not 
strong  enough  to  storm  the  house!  I  do  not  care  to 
destroy  it  and  leave  a  trail.  If*  the  devil  serves  me 
now,  I'll  carry  the  girl  off,  if  she  leaves  her  garden 
walks  alone." 

Ramon  Maxan  exulted  in  the  possession  of  a  map 
of  the  grounds,  and  a  sketch  with  directions  made  by 
Ximenes  in  his  hours  of  slow  convalescence  at  Los 
Angeles. 

Four  days  later,  Leavenworth  and  Manson  rode  out 
of  the  parade  at  Fort  Duncan,  Eagle  Pass,  in  the  fresh 


FOR    LIFE    AND    I.OVE.  3^7 

morning,  with  all  the  haunting  shadows  lifted  from  their 
brows.  The  magic  telegraph  had  spoken  to  the  Texan 
from  the  white  walls  of  Arundel  House.  Gertrude  was 
now  aware  of  her  lover's  safety.  From  New  Orleans 
the  anxious  son  learned  that  his  father  had  sailed  for 
Indianola  on  his  way  home.  Jack  Manson,  by  dint  of 
night  labors,  had  sent  a  duplicated  tracing  of  his  map, 
one  copy  to  San  Miguel  and  one  to  be  forwarded  to 
New  Orleans  for  New  York,  via  the  mouth  of  the 
•river,  for  a  relay  military  express  rider  was  to  dash  on 
with  important  dispatches  in  four  days.  Mark  Man- 
son's  cipher  enabled  Manson  to  commune  with  his 
uncle  at  New  York,  through  the  courtesy  of  the  mili- 
tary telegraph. 

"  Now,  Jimmy,"  said  Manson,  "  you  do  not  need  me 
professionally  any  longer.  If  I  should  be  knocked  over, 
your  father  could  secure  his  grants  by  simply  pegging 
off  this  line.  Uncle  Mark  could,  after  a  day's  examina- 
tion of  my  papers,  safely  contract  the  road  by  divisions 
and  not  waste  five  thousand  dollars.  It  is  a  marvel- 
ously  easy  and  practicable  route.  So  double  up  our 
marches,  my  Texan  friend.  All  I  will  do  is  jot  down  an 
itinerary  and  run  off  a  reconnoissance  sketch-line  in  my 
pocket-book  as  we  hurry  along  homeward.  You  are  now 
the  leader.  The  sooner  you  take  me  back  to  Katie  the 
nearer  you  will  be  to  the  waiting  beauty  of  Arundel. 
Thank  God,  Gertrude  Marshall's  prophetic  vision  was 
only  a  fevered  dream  of  womanly  anxiety!" 

Dashing  steadily,  yet  warily,  along,  swinging  and 
curving  down  the  sandy  bad  lands,  the  little  troop 
pressed  on  homeward.  Their  way  led  through  stony 
wastes  of  sterile  sandy  bluffs,  tenanted  by  coyote  and 
huge  rattlesnakes.  They  threaded  great  cactus  groves 
scores  of  miles  in  extent,  where  in  dawn  and  eve,  a 
thousand  richest  colors  of  purple,  cream,  and  azure  hid 


go8  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

the  cruel  thorns  of  the  serrated  leaves.  Daintily  the 
timid  steeds  picked  their  way  past  Spanish  bayonet  lines 
almost  impregnable.  The  light,  powdery  red  soil  rose 
in  choking  clouds  from  under  the  low,  brittle  boughs 
of  the  mesquit  groves,  and  deer  and  antelope  fled  before 
them.  A  simple  bivouac  at  night  sufficed  them.  Lightly 
their  clatter  enlivened  the  passing  hours.  A  weird 
silence  wrapped  the  desert  wastes  and  whitened  skeletons 
of  cattle,  and  here  and  there  only  a  lonely  grave,  marked 
with  stones,  indicated  the  presence  of  man  or  his  belong- 
ings. -A  deserted  shepherd's  hut  or  mud-walled  adobe 
indicated  the  uttermost  frontier  fringe  of  nomadic  life  as, 
a  week  later,  they  neared  Ringgold  Barracks,  having 
swept  past  Laredo  in  a  great  inward  curve. 

Camped  on  the  border  of  a  seventy-mile  stretch, 
without  water,  Leavenworth  communed  with  his  stal- 
wart companion. 

"  To  cross  this  'Jornada  de  los  muertes,'  we  must 
pull  out  four  hours  before  dawn.  This  is  the  last  good 
water-hole.  There  is  one  unreliable  one  in  a  stunted 
grove  of  trees  in  the  middle  of  this  baking  plain.  If 
cattle  have  been  driven  by,  it  may  be  choked  and  dry 
for  weeks.  We  can  rest  the  animals  there  a  couple  of 
hours,  and,  by  making  a  push,  reach  the  outer  side 
to-morrow  night.  I'll  have  water  for  the  team  mules 
taken.  It  is  my  custom  to  inspect  canteens,  and  watch 
my  men,  for  the  sun's  reflection  is  so  hot  here.  I've 
known  men  to  be  found  dead,  black,  and  swollen,  in 
seven  hours,  from  over-exertion,  in  trying  to  hasten 
over  it.  I  wish  to  get  across,  for  old  Basilio  is  getting 
too  stiff  in  the  joints  to  cross  it  safely.  We  ought  to 
run  into  Tom  Bayard's  party  beyond  it,  from  his  dis- 
patch to  me  at  Eagle  Pass,  from  Brownsville." 

The  stars  were  shining  as  the  camp  was  roused  from 
their  early  nine  o'clock  evening  rest,  at  the  hour  of  two. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  309 

In  thirty  minutes  the  cavalcade  moved  out  steadily  over 
the  gray  waste.  When  the  fiery  red  sun  leaped  up,  in 
half  an  hour,  the  frontiersmen  were  riding  with  bared 
breasts.  In  silence  the  column  plodded  on  loosely,  the 
horses  lowering  their  necks,  and  a  flickering  mirage 
tantalizing  the  riders.  Hour  after  hour  wore. on.  With 
parched  throats  the  train  pushed  toward  a  scrubby  patch 
of  stunted  trees  in  a  hollow  before-  them.  As  the  tired 
animals  drew  near  the  oasis,  a  band  of  wild,  thirst- 
maddened  cattle  charged  down  on  them  at  a  furious 
run.  Their  tossing  horns  and  hoarse  bellowing  alarmed 
the  jaded  steeds.  In  an  instant  the  quick-witted  young 
leader  was  ready ! 

"Form  line!"  he  cried.  "Every  other  man  dismount 
and  open  fire!"  His  voice  rang  out  not  a  moment  too 
quickly.  The  thirst-crazed  beasts  were  thundering  on. 
As  the  fusillade  of  carbines  opened,  the  reserve  men, 
with  yells  and  cries,  aided  the  stampede  of  the  now 
divided  herd. 

Leavenworth  laughed  as  the  wild  steers  tore  by  at  a 
frenzied  run.  "Cease  firing!"  he  called  out.  "That 
band  will  be  lying  panting  in  death  on  the  sands  in  an 
hour.  They  will  run  till  they  throw  themselves  and 
never  rise  again!  Jack,  ride  down  and  see  if  there  is 
any  water  at  the  hole.  I  fear  they  have  trodden  it 
down ;  we  must  make  a  dry  camp  and  push  on  later." 

Slipping  his  Winchester  in  its  sheath  under  his  leg, 
Manson  dashed  by  several  prostrate  animals,  his  racer 
bounding  in  fright.  As  he  approached  the  grove,  by 
mere  instinct  his  hand  dropped  on  his  heavy  belt  pistol. 
It  was  the  salvation  of  his  life,  for,  as  he  pushed  up  to 
the  cover,  a  wild  figure  rose  and  quickly^opened  fire  at 
point  blank  on  man  and  horse.  The  frightened  thor- 
oughbred bounded  sideways,  as  Manson,  snatching  his 
revolver,  fired  three  quick  shots.  The  would-be  assas- 
sin, pitching  heavily,  fell  forward  on  his  face! 


310  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

In  a  moment,  Leavenworth  and  half  the  column 
pulled  up  beside  the  still  amazed  engineer.  "Here, 
Walton,  search  the  whole  grove!  Send  four  men  to 
ride  around  it.  This  fellow  must  have  had  a  horse;  he 
has  spurs  on ! " 

Flinging  himself  from  the  saddle,  the  Texan,  aided 
by  a  scout,  searched  the  wounded  man's  clothing. 

"Ah,  what's  this?"  almost  screamed  Leavenworth. 
He  was  gazing  blankly  at  a  piece  of  paper,  torn  from 
a  blood-stained  envelope.  Hanson's  ball  had  pierced 
the  Mexican's  lungs. 

Jack  was  at  his  side  in  a  moment. 

Meet  me  at  Los  Olmos.  I've  got  the  Gringo  girl.  I'm  going 
up  now  to  catch  the  two  young  fools.  If  you  can't  get  there  by 
to-p!ght  before  daybreak,  push  on  to  Las  Cuevas,  and  hide  and 
wait  for  me. 

It  was  addressed  "A  mi  amigo,  Caballo  Blanco,"  and 
signed  "  Ramon  Maxan." 

Leavenworth  shrieked  "  Am  I  going  mad  ? "  as  he 
gazed  from  side  to  side.  Walton  came  galloping  up. 
The  men  had  spread  under  cover  and  the  wagon  was 
drawn  under  the  scanty  shade. 

"  Come,  for  God's  sake!  Old  Basilic  lies  out  there 
wounded,  dying,  perhaps.  Bring  water,  whisky." 

Jack  Manson  pointed  to  the  already  retreating  man, 
sprang  on  his  horse,  and  Leavenworth,  the  fatal  note 
in  his  hand,  rode  beside  him. 

"My  God!      Katie  or  Alice,  which?"  he  groaned. 

But  Jack  Manson  set  his  teeth  and  hissed:  "All  depends 
on  your  coolness  now.  We  must  revive  old  Basilio. 
He  knows.  There  has  been  a  fight  here!" 

A  little  group  was  already  gath'ered  around  the  old 
scout.  A  ball  through  his  shoulder  had  crippled  him, 
and  it  was  a  ten  minutes  of  agony  before  his  glazed  eyes 
opened.  Carried  in  under  the  shade,  his  face  freshened 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  3!! 

with  the  precious  water,  a  swallow  of  whisky  forced  in 
his  mouth,  he  feebly  moaned,  in  Spanish,  to  Jimmy 
Leavenworth,  kneeling  by  him.  It  was  an  eternity 
to  Manson's  bursting  heart,  when  Leavenworth  rose, 
cool  and  collected.  His  voice  sounded  as  if  echoing  in 
a  tomb. 

"  Walton,  keep  the  wagon,  the  five  heaviest  men,  and 
all  the  articles,  save  our  canteens,  ammunition,  and 
weapons.  Let  each  man  fill  his  saddle-pouch  with  food. 
Take  double  ammunition  belts.  Leave  everything  else 
cached  behind  here.  Equalize  the  water.  Strike  for 
Ringgold  Barracks  with  the  wagon.  Leave  Basilic 
there  with  the  army  surgeon.  Refit  and  push  for  Las 
Cuevas  for  your  life  then.  Send  a  company  of  cavalry 
down  there.  Tell  Lieutenant  Buller  that  Maxan  car- 
ried my  sister  Katie  away  into  Mexico!  " 

A  hoarse  yell  from  the  men  rose.  Leavenworth 
cried:  "  For  God's  sake,  Jack!"  But  Manson  was  a 
hundred  yards  away. 

"Where  are  you  going?"  screamed  Jimmy,  racing 
up  to  him. 

Manson  hoarsely  cried:  "There!  Over  there!  to 
find  her,  Katie.  My  God!  My  own  darling!  " 

Leavenworth  caught  his  bridle  rein.  "  See  here, 
Jack!  I  know  how  you  love  my  sister.  For  her  sake, 
wait  a  half -hour!  We'll  breathe  the  horses,  wash  their 
mouths  out,  pick  our  men,  and  I  will  lead  you  over 
this  waste.  It  must  be!  Otherwise  we  would  break 
down!  And  Katie!" 

Jack  Manson  glared  sternly  at  him  as  they  rode 
back. 

Lying  on  the  sand  in  the  shade,  while  the  men,  with 
nimble  fingers,  prepared  for  a  life  and  death  quest, 
Jimmy  told  the  story,  as  the  tears  ran  down  his  bronzed 
face. 


312  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  Basilic  camped  alone  abreast  of  Las  Cuevas. 
When  he  got  to  Laredo  he  sent  my  dispatches.  The 
back  country  was  filled  with  thieves  and  raiders,  and 
the  commanding  officer  sent  him  down  to  meet  Tom 
Bayard's  party  under  escort.  At  Ringgold  he  left  the 
escort.  Waiting  for  Bayard,  who  had  started,  moving 
slowly  up  from  Brownsville,  the  old  man  hid  his  horse 
in  a  canon,  and  was  going  to  the  spring  for  water, 
-when  this  fellow  and  another  rode  up.  He  listened  in 
hiding  to  their  talk.  Maxan  had  sneaked  over  the 
river,  and  lying  around  San  Miguel,  captured  Katie 
walking  near  the  house  below  the  gardens.  A  light 
ambulance  was  hidden  below  the  hills,  furnished  by 
some  of  his  Mexican-border  friends.  Striking  for  Las 
Cuevas,  on  his  way  to  his  place,  he  sent  these  fellows 
for  help  to  attack  us.  In  trying  to  get  away,  they  saw 
Basilio.  He  opened  fire  on  foot;  killed  one,  and  the 
other  fled.  The  old  man  was  delayed  saddling  his 
horse,  and  only  caught  up  with  the  fleeing  scoundrel 
here.  The  fool  would  not  leave  his  horse  to  hide,  but 
he  ambushed  Basilio.  In  the  exchange  of  shots,  Basilio 
killed  this  fellow's  horse,  and  was  himself  brought 
down  with  a  ball  in  his  shoulder.  The  spy  then  tried 
to  catch  Basilio's  horse,  which  ran  away  and  may  be 
dead  on  the  desert.  I  suppose  that  he  was  driven  to 
cover  by  the  wild  cattle.  When  you  came  up,  the 
robber  thought  you  were  alone,  and  tried  to  murder  you 
to  get  your  horse.  Now,  you  know  all  I" 

"All  ready,  sir,"  reported  Walton,  as  he  held  out  a 
canteen  to  the  young  leader.  "  We  have  enough  water 
left."  The  two  friends  rose,  and  their  men  filed  by, 
each  face  alive  for  vengeance. 

"We'll  follow  you  to  the  death,  Captain  Jim,"  cried 
one.  A  yell  followed. 


FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE.  313 

"Come  on  now,  Jack!"  cried  Leavenworth,  with  a 
wild  stare  in  his  eyes.  "It's  for  Life  and  Love  now 
to  the  last  drop  of  our  hearts' blood !  Seven  o'clock, 
we  will  strike  the  well  at  El  Jicaro.  There  we  take 
three  hours'  rest,  and  I'll  start  our  lightest  man  to  Ring- 
gold  Barracks  and  two  to  meet  Tom  Bayard.  When  we 
start,  we'll  strike  that  robber-crossing,  Las  Cuevas,  on 
a  run  without  drawing  rein.  I'll  not  leave  a  man  alive 
I  find  in  it!" 

Jack  bowed  his  head  and  set  his  eager  eyes  toward 
the  distant  Rio  Grande. 

Leavenworth  lingered  a  moment.  "Walton,  can 
that  wounded  Mexican  travel?"  The  scout  shook  his 
head.  Leavenworth  rode  on,  with  a  significant  gesture. 
Walton  nodded,  and  muttered:  "Count  on  me  joining 
at  Las  Cuevas  before  you  leave."  He  strode  through 
the  bushes  past  the  trampled  water-hole. 

A  heavy  report  rang  out  as  Leavenworth  reined 
up  beside  Manson  at  the  head  of  the  plodding  column 
of  avengers. 

"  What's  that? "  said  Jack,  in  a  dazed  voice. 

"  They  are  only  killing  a  dog,"  coldly  said  the  young 
Texan,  as  he  motioned  to  the  front. 

And  the  rescue  party,  grim  and  silent,  nursing  every 
movement  of  their  steeds,  drew  out  toward  the  grassy 
slopes  and  cool,  running  stream  at  El  Jicaro. 


3 '4  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVEj 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  AVENGERS DAYBREAK  AT  LAS  CUEVAS JIMMY 

LEAVENWORTH'S  FANCY  SHOT — OVER  THE  BOR- 
DER  THE      RANGERS STORMING      THE      WOLF'S 

DEN COLONEL     MEJIA's     WAY PADRE    ANTONIO 

A    DANGEROUS    NURSE. 

THE  pitiless  sun  beat  down  on  the  mute  rescue  party. 
Hot  and  blinding  the  powdery,  gray  dust  rose  under 
the  horses'  feet.  It  was  the  same  unvarying  alterna- 
tion, nopales,  cactus,  Spanish  bayonet,  and  here  and 
there  a  carcass  torn  by  coyotes,  or  a  grossly  swollen 
rattlesnake  blind  in  the  desert  sun. 

Leavenworth,  the  gray  dust  clinging  to  his  eyelids, 
glared  forward  as  sharp-eyed  as  a  mountain  condor. 
He  was  silent,  yet  now  and  then  his  shoulders  twitched. 
As  a  tear  stole  down  Jimmy's  bronzed  cheek,  Bronco 
Bill  touched  Jack  Manson's  elbow. 

"Don't  notice  him.  You'll  break  his  trance!  I've 
seen  men  go  mad  on  the  desert.  He's  just  wild  about 
Miss  Katie.  By  God !"  he  hissed,  "  there's  a  reckoning 
coming!  I  never  saw  the  boys  roused  this  way. 
They're  took  awful  hard  with  this!" 

Jack  Manson  turned  his  eyes  kindly  toward  the  plains- 
man. 

"  We  are  in  this  to  the  death,"  said  Bill.  "  You'll 
come  out  all  right." 

Manson's  eyes  alone -spoke  his  gratitude,  for  he  knew 
now  that  the  rough  riders  had  divined  his  secret. 

As  the  oasis  sank  behind  them,  the  two  leaders,  bear- 
ing south,  descried  Walton's  party,  moving  in  a  bee-line 
for  Ringgold.  Not  a  sign  of  life  was  visible,  and  the 
blue  vault  of  heaven  showed  only  here  and  there  a 
fleecy  white  puff. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  315 

The  admiring  cattlemen  noted  the  two  youths  at  their 
head  with  pride.  Jimmy  Leavenworth,  lean,  light, 
sitting  his  horse  with  the  easy  grace  of  Forrest's  invin- 
cible riders,  and  responsive  in  the  graceful  sway  of  every 
muscle  to  the  dainty  steps  of  his  mount.  Jack  Manson, 
his  eyes  to  the  front,  calm  and  manly,  guarded  his 
matchless  racer  with  the  skill  of  a  Pawnee,  and  his  set, 
clean-cut  face  was  as  full  of  grit  as  beloved  Charly 
Lowell  on  that  sad  day  of  victory  when  he  rode  down 
the  Virginian  troopers  at  Cedar  Creek.  Manson  was 
benumbed  at  heart.  His  steady  eye  was  fixed  on  the 
dark-green  line,  growing  nearer  every  half-hour,  where 
El  Jicaro's  waters  freely  ran. 

The  men  chewed  lead  bullets  when  the  last  drops  of 
water  were  gone.  As  the  sun  neared  the  horizon  a 
waft  of  breeze  drew  out  of  the  woods  two  miles 
away! 

"  Thank  God!"  burst  out  a  chorus,  as  the  flaming  disk 
dropped  below  the  western  sands.  Two  or  three"  of 
the  strongest  horses  sniffed  the  air  and  began  an  uneasy, 
restless  trot.  The  deer-like  animals  scented  the  water. 

"  Steady,  men,"  was  Leavenworth's  only  word,  and 
with  an  infinite  patience,  they  moved  on  at  the  fast 
plodding  walk  which  had  taken  them  safely  over  the 
"  Jornada  de  los  muertos," 

As  his  horse  struck  solid  ground  at  the  edge  of  the 
grass,  Leavenworth  threw  up  his  hand  and  dashed  on! 
Ten  minutes  later  man  and  beast  were  under  the  grassy 
shades  of  El  Jicaro  Creek.  A  half-dozen  videttes 
scoured  the  timber,  and,  on  their  report,  the  unsaddled 
horses  were  rubbed  down  after  their  freshening  roll  on 
the  turf.  Drinking  sparingly  and  bathing  their  heads 
and  breasts,  the  riders  waited  the  welcome  coffee 
bubbling  at  the  camp-fire. 


3l  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"How  long?  "was  Bill's  brief  query,  as  he  looked 
at  Leavenworth  prone  on  the  turf. 

*'  Two  hours,  Bill,"  quietly  replied  the  leader.  "  I'll 
lead  you  down  as  quick  as  we  can  get  to  Las  Cuevas." 

"Will  you  go  in  before  daybreak? "  said  Bill,  his 
voice  shaking  a  little. 

"No,  we  can  not  see  to  shoot  before  then!'  I  don't 
want  a  thief  to  get  away.  Besides,  the  cavalry  may 
get  down.  I  will  leave  a  couple  of  men  on  the  road  to 
stop  them  and  lead  them  in.  When  I  give  the  signal  to 
fall  in,  Bill,  you  can  inspect  every  man's  arms,  and  not  a 
word  on  the  march  after  we  leave.  We'll  hide  till 
dawn.  Those  fellows  come  back  from  the  Rio  Grande 
side  at  daybreak.  Tell  all  the  men  this.  I  want 
you  to  take  five  men  across  and  stop  the  fugitives  on 
the  other  side." 

After  Manson  and  Leavenworth  had  broken  their 
fast,  and  drained  their  cups  of  steaming  coffee,  Leaven- 
worth said,  "Jack,  come  out  here  a  minute." 

They  stood  alone  \mder  the  evening  stars. 

The  Texan  spoke,  in  a  hollow  voice:  "  I  wish  you  to 
know  what  to  do.  Gertie's  vision  may  come  true.  I 
do  not  care,  for  even  then  I  shall  see  Katie."  His 
voice  broke  in  sobs.  "  But  you  will  lead  them  out!  I 
will  save  a  couple  of  boys,  or  a  woman,  and  cross  the 
river  and  push  on  to  that  devil's  den.  We  can  not  wait 
a  minute.  If  he  is  there,  it  may  be  too  late  if  we  delay. 
Troops  or  no  troops,  I  can  hold  his  ranch  if  he  is  not 
back.  I  think  he  went  up  on  our  trail.  I  do  not  know 
if  Buller  would  dare  to  take  his  men  over.  But  we  will 
follow  on  the  trail,  and  if  we  get  her,  then,  come  what 
will,  take  her  back  at  once  over  the  Rio  Grande.  Take 
her  to  Ringgold  Barracks.  There  are  ladies  there. 
With  an  escort  and  an  ambulance,  push  home  at  oncej 


FOR   LIFE    AND    LOVE.  JI^ 

for  mother  and  Alice  will  be  frantic.  I  know  but  one 
man  who  could  take  us  into  this  place  beside  old  Basilio. 
That's  Rip  Ford,  but  he,  I  think,  is  at  Houston.  Too 
late  to  wait  for  any  one.  Depend  on  Bronco  Bill. 
He  is  as  game  as  steel." 

"Jimmy,  you  speak — ."    Jack's  voice  faltered. 

"As  if  I  were  doomed?  Yes,  I  do,"  said  Leavenworth, 
wringing  Jack's  hands.  "Tell  Gertie  —  no,  not  a 
word.  By  heaven  That  girl  knows  my  last  drop  of 
heart's  blood  beats  for  her  alone.  She  'will  know!  She 
never  could  doubt  me  if  an  angel  plead." 

There  was  a  sad  pride  in  Leavenworth's  voice,  as  he 
resolutely  strode  back  to  the  little  fire.  An  hour  and  a 
half  had  elapsed.  The  men  were  even  now  ready. 

"Put  out  that  fire,"  said  Jimmy  quietly.  "  vScatter 
it.  There — not  a  light  or  match  struck  till  daybreak. 
Boys,"  he  cried,  his  voice  ringing  clearly  in  the  hushed 
night,  "  I  will  not  talk  to  you.  You  are  all  Texans 
but  my  brother  Jack  here.  Follow  me  now.  Don't  be 
too  eager.  Pick  your  men.  If  I'm  hit,  follow  him! " 
He  pointed  to  Jack. 

There  was  a  murmur  of  suppressed  voices,  as  the 
men  swung  lightly  into  their  saddles.  Twenty-five 
miles  of  grassy  turf  before  them  was  nothing  now  to 
the  freshened  animals.  The  two  young  men,  pistol  in 
hand,  rode  in  advance,  and  Bronco  Bill,  at  five  paces, 
minutely  directed  the  cavalcade  by  his  pistol  arm. 

The  spectral  line  of  horsemen  moved  briskly  and  at  a 
safe  distance  from  the  main  road,  which  stretched 
across  the  bends  of  the  Rio  Grande,  distant  from  two 
to  five  miles.  Every  half-hour  Leavenworth  sprang  off 
and  listened,  his  face  to  the  ground.  It  was  two  o'clock 
when  he  led  his  men  down  toward  a  little  valley  fringed 
with  thick,  flourishing  trees.  Halting  and  throwing  up 
his  hand,  Jimmy  called  Bronco  Bill  in  an  undertone, 


318  FOR   LIFE   AND   LOVE. 

"  I'll  hold  your  horse.  Worm  down  and  take  a  look 
around !  " 

Bill  disappeared  in  the  long  grass,  sneaking  forward 
like  a  panther. 

"  These  Las  Cuevas  fellows  never  come  here,"  he 
whispered  to  Jack.  "They  hide  along  the  river-bank 
so  they  can  swim  across  to  either  side  at  will.  All  are 
smugglers  along  the  Bravo,  many  horse  thieves,  but  not 
all  murderers.  With  the  Las  Cuevas  gang  there's  no 
mistake." 

"  How  far  is  the  crossing? "  queried  Manson,  glad  to 
break  the  unearthly  stillness,  and  to  divert  Leaven- 
worth's  brooding  mind. 

"About  three  miles  due  south.  The  re-entrant  of 
the  bend  is  toward  Mexico.  All  the  boys  know  the 
crossing." 

"  Is  it  fordable?  "  continued  Jack. 

"No!  The  river  is  about  two  hundred  yards  wide. 
It's  fairly  high  water  now.  It  is  fifteen  feet  deep,  with 
a  good  current.  But  there  are  always  dug-outs  there. 
If  we  can't  find  a  flat,  we  will  unsaddle  and  swim  the 
horses  over.  They  can  all  do  it." 

As  he  spoke  Bronco  Bill  came  racing  back,  breath- 
less and  with  no  attempt  at  disguise. 

"  Tom  Bayard  and  Rip  Ford,  with  fifteen  men,  down 
in  the  hollow!"  he  almost  shouted. 

The  San  Miguel  party  dashed  down  into  the  pocket 
valley.  Five  minutes  later  the  gray-haired  ranger  chief- 
tain, Tom  Bayard,  his  sturdy  frame  quivering  with  rage, 
and  the  two  lovers  had  closed  a  brief  council  of  war. 

"See  here,  Bill!"  said  Colonel  Bayard,  in  an 
impressive  voice.  "  I  had  a  dispatch  that  McNally's 
rangers  are  at  Carrizo,  before  I  left  Brownsville.  Now, 
you  ride  up  there  as  quick  as  your  horse  will  take  you, 


FOR    LIFE   AND   LOVE.  319 

and  tell  him  from  me  to  circle  round  by  Aiguilares  and 
swing  in  here  as  quick  as  he  can.  Stay !  I'll  give  you 
my  horse.  He  is  fresh.  You  can  make  it  in  four  hours." 

There  was  a  dead  silence. 

"  Do  you  hear  me?  "  said  Bayard,  with  a  little  sharp- 
ness in  his  tone. 

"  Colonel  Tom,"  said  the  cowboy  quietly,  "  I'd  die 
for  you  if  you  told  me  to,  but  I'm  d — d  if  I  stir  an 
inch  till  I've  seen  Las  Cuevas  burned  down!  I'll  fol- 
low Miss  Katie,  if  I  go  alone^  and  I'll  get  her  if  I  go 
to  the  City  of  Mexico." 

Tom  Bayard  grasped  the  rough  fellow's  hand. 

"  You  are  a  dead-game  fellow.  Bill,  I'll  never  for- 
get you!  Now,  I'll  make  it  fair.  I'll  send  the  lightest 
man." 

"Thank  you,  Colonel.  There's  Pony  Tom.  He 
never  missed  a  fight  before,  and  he  knows  McNally; 
he  was  one  of  his  men." 

"Will  you  go,  Tom?"  said  Bayard,  as  Bill  made 
way  for  a  delicate-looking  stripling. 

"  Well,  sir,  if  I  can't  fight  for  the  lady,  I'll  ride  a 
good  race  for  her." 

"  That's  the  style !  You  can  call  my  place  your  home, 
if  you  find  me  the  rangers,"  said  the  Confederate, 
handing  him  his  flask.  "Here,  Tom,  it's  a  cold  night! 
Bring  up  that  horse." 

Tossing  aside  his  rifle  and  loosening  the  heavy  saddle, 
the  light  plainsman  bounded  on  Tom  Bayard's  horse. 
A  single  pistol  in  a  belt,  a  well-muffled  canteen,  with 
the  heavy  frontier  knife,  were  the  messenger's  equip- 
ments. Throwing  up  his  hand,  the  light  rider  pressed 
the  brave  steed  with  his  sinewy  knees.  Away,  like  an 
arrow  from  a  bow,  the  willing  beast  bounded ! 

"  There's  five  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  horseflesh  to 
be  ruined.  Well,  if  we  don't  save  her,  I  have  no  use 


320  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

for  horses  or  a  ranch,  cither"  philosophized  Bayard. 
"  I  will  never  show  my  face  on  the  Nueces,  if  we  fail. 
Now,  young  men,  you  know  what  is  before  us!  Both 
of  you  have  had  a  hard  day.  Ford  and  myself  will 
stir  you  up  in  time.  Sleep  a  couple  of  hours;  you  have 
two  colonels  in  command." 

Jack  Manson  courted  sleep  to  quiet  Leavenworth. 
In  half  an  hour  they  slept  under  the  stars,  while  the 
silver-haired  Ford  glided  among  his  watchful  pickets, 
or  murmured  in  low  tones  to  Bayard.  Tom  sat  on  his 
saddle,  his  eyes  glued  on  the  lightening  east. 

"When  it's  light  enough  to  travel,  it  will  be  good 
enough  light  to  shoot  by  when  we  get  there.  Ford,  you 
had  better  pick  a  man  to  take  a  squad  over  below  the 
ranch  and  meet  Bill's  men  crossing  above.  Pick  out  a 
cool  fellow — one  who  wont  be  eager  enough  to  drown 
his  men  crossing,  or  excitable  enough  to  shoot  into  our 
own  men.  You  give  him  his  orders;  don't  let  him 
turn  aside  for  anything,  but  get  across  !  Let  him  pick 
his  own  men.  I'll  warn  Bill;  we  will  give  them  ten 
minutes'  start  of  us.  They  must  hide  on  the  other 
side  and  not  close  in  till  they  hear  our  firing.  Then,  let 
them  hold  the  farther  bank." 

"All  right.  That's  a  good  plan,"  said  the  sententious 
old  ranger,  and  in  half  an  hour  the  warned  squads  were 
ready  for  the  word.  The  night  breezes  died  away  into 
the  hush  of  dawn.  From  the  rich,  low  woods  the 
chirping  twitter  of  birds  began  to  sound.  As  the  first 
faint  red  streak  tinged  the  east,  Tom  Bayard  rose  from 
his  couch. 

"Rouse  your  men,  Bill.  Saddle  up.  Let  the  boys 
make  coffee  and  take  a  bite." 

Colonel  Ford's  good  gray  head  lay  elevated  on  his 
saddle,  and  a  gentle  droning  sound  indicated  the  peace- 
ful sleep  of  the  veteran  taking  forty  winks, 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  321 

Leavenworth  and  Manson  were  awake  at  a  touch.  In 
a  few  minutes  the  camp  was  in  motion.  The  sentinels 
had  kept  the  coffee-pots  in  trim  at  a  covered  fire.  The 
men  stood  to  horse.  In  a  group  the  four  leaders  stood, 
while  on  right  and  left  the  first  detachments  were 
ready,  in  the  saddle. 

"Who  is  to  direct  this  morning's  business?"  said 
Bayard,  as  simply  as  if  it  were  a  peaceful  call. 

All  eyes  turned  to  Ford,  as  he  stood  modestly  in  their 
midst. 

«  Well,  I  suppose  it's  the  old  thing,"  he  said  placidly. 
With  a  few  words  to  Bill  and  the  other  squad  leader, 
he  dismissed  them  at  a  trot.  Watch  in  hand,  he  gave 
the  vanished  pickets  the  full  ten  minutes,  A  faint 
streak  of  morning-light  lit  up  the  old  man's  serious 
face. 

"Now,  gentlemen,  it's  for  Las  Cuevas!  Pass  the 
word,"  he  said.  "  Take  in  everything  that  can  handle 
a  gun  or  machete.  Look  out  for  the  women  and  chil- 
dren." 

The  command  moved  in  two  squads  of  fours,  Colonel 
Ford  and  Leavenworth  on  the  right,  Tom  Bayard  and 
Manson  leading  the  left.  Not  a  word  was  exchanged 
as  ten  minutes'  brisk  trot  covered  half  the  distance  to 
where  the  swarthy  river-vermin  lay  in  the  robber  lair 
of  Las  Cuevas.  Many  a  wild  fandango  there  had 
celebrated  the  murder  of  a  picket  party,  the  cutting 
off  of  a  pair  of  the  doomed  Customs  Inspectors,  or 
the  slaying  of  some  incautious  merchant  or  ranchero. 
Haunting  the  lonely  roads,  these  merciless  bandits  used 
ambush  and  cruel  stratagem  to  effect  a  victory  when 
they  feared  the  desperate  bravery  of  the  hardy  Ameri- 
can traveller.  Watch  and  trinket,  chain  and  gewgaw, 
bedizened  their  sullen-eyed,  brown-skinned  paramours. 
A  floating  population  of  thirty  to  a  hundred  filled  the 


322  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

duplicated  dens  on  the  two  banks  of  the  bloody  Rio 
Bravo.  For  there,  in  the  elastic,  invisible,  middle 
thread  of  the  turbid  stream,  was  the  dividing  line, 
across  which  Taylor  fired  the  first  cannon  of  the  Mex- 
ican War. 

Without  discovery,  the  stealthy  riders  reached  a  point 
within  half  a  mile  from  which  the  smoke  rose  in  thin 
blue  wreaths  from  the  thatched  huts. 

"Just  a  nice  shooting  light,"  said  Bayard,  turning 
his  head  toward  Jack,  whose  stern  gaze  was  riveted 
on  the  distant  huts  now  visible.  "Ha!  we're  off!" 
shouted  Bayard,  as  Ford  waved  his  hand,  and  the  right 
column  sprang  forward  on  a  dead  run!  The  men  lean- 
ing lightly  forward,  their  heavy  revolvers  at  a  poise, 
bounded  over  the  turf,  their  horses  straining  every 
sinew. 

"  Easy ;  don't  blow  your  horses.  Spread  out,"  called 
Bayard.  As  he  turned  his  eyes  to  the  front,  from 
a  glance  at  his  men,  he  saw  that  Jack  Manson  was 
fifty  yards  in  advance  of  the  charging  line.  Driving 
the  spurs  in  his  own  horse,  Bayard  rode  into  the  ranch 
as  a  straggling  fire  began  from  behind  its  hedges  and 
corrals.  The  ringing  crack  of  the  Colt's  revolvers 
woke  the  morning  echoes  as  the  maddened  Texans  rode 
on  their  foes.  Yells  and  howls  of  pain  sounded  high, 
and  the  plaintive  wail  of  women  and  frightened  chil- 
dren swelled  the  din. 

"Watch  the  bank,  Jack!"  shouted  Bayard,  as  the 
firing  slackened  and  a  few  half-dressed  wretches  threw 
themselves  over  the  steep  banks  into  the  muddy 
stream. 

Already  the  ranch  houses  were  blazing,  and,  with 
execrations,  the  dismounted  searchers  dragged  out  of 
hiding-places  a  half-dozen  wretches.  Two  of  the 
rangers  lay  dead,  their  friends  crowding  around,  while 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  323 

several  staggered  away  out  of  the  fight  with  ball  or 
machete  wound. 

"Secure  every  living  thing!  Separate  the  woman 
and  children,"  shouted  Bayard,  as  the  helpless  crowded 
in  terror  into  every  possible  hiding-place. 

A  line  of  excited  men  were  shooting  rapidly  at  the 
swimmers  in  the  river.  One  or  two  had  seized  logs  of 
wood  and  were  swimming  on  their  backs.  From  the 
other  side  a  fusillade  was  now  opened  on  the  desperate 
wretches  struggling  for  their  lives!  The  revolver  balls 
of  the  plainsmen  tore  up  the  water  around  the  fugi- 
tives. The  farther  bank  was  covered  with  fringing 
bushes,  gullies,  and  holes,  into  which  the  fugitives 
might  crawl  and  baffle  pursuit,  unless  at  once  picked  off 
by  the  men  under  Bronco  Bill. 

"  This  will  never  do,"  cried  Jimmy  Leavenworth» 
dashing  up  and  springing  from  his  horse.  "  Get  your 
rifles."  A  dozen  rushed  for  the  Winchesters,  hanging 
on  their  saddles.  The  horse-holders  tossed  them  down 
in  haste. 

"  Here !  "  cried  Leaven  worth,  snatching  the  nearest 
rifle.  The  ping  of  the  rifle-balls  sounded  shrill  as  the 
daylight  brightened.  Of  four  men  in  the  river  three 
sank,  throwing  up  their  arms. 

One  powerful  swimmer,  clutching  a  log  of  wood 
which  he  held  between  his  head  and  the  rain  of  rifle- 
balls,  floated  down  the  stream.  He  was  over  two 
hundred  yards  away.  He  seemed  to  bear  a  charmed 
life.  In  a  minute  more  he  would  be  around  a  bend. 

"Who's  that  swimming?"  demanded  Leavenworth, 
as  a  ranger,  pistol  in  hand,  dragged  up  a  villainous- 
looking  youth,  a  prisoner.  He  was  sulky.  Leaven- 
worth  raised  his  hand.  The  mei-ciless  captor  clapped  a 
revolver  to  the  fellow's  ear. 

"Alia  estael  Caballo  Blanco,"  he  whimpered.  Jimmy 


324  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Leavenworth  set  his  teeth  and  dropped  on  one  knee. 
He  followed  the  swimming  bandit  with  the  long  rifle- 
barrel,  keeping  the  sight  trained  on  the  floating  head. 
A  dozen  anxious  men  held  their  breath.  The  word 
"fire"  was  trembling  on  their  lips.  Leavenworth 
crouched  as  if  carved  in  stone.  A  current  bore  the 
swimmer  on  a  shallow.  With  one  wild  spring  he 
darted  toward  the  bushes  not  five  yards  away.  As  his 
arms  rose,  the  Texan  deliberately  fired,  and  the  fugitive 
sprang  in  the  air,  crashing  down  prone  on  the  pebbly 
beach!  Leavenworth  dropped  his  smoking  rifle  without 
a  word.  He  turned,  as  a  wild  yell  of  triumph  rose  from  a 
trio  of  rangers  opposite,"  who  reached  the  shelving  point 
where  the  body  lay. 

It  was  indeed  "White-Horse"  Caballo  Blanco,  a 
fiend  on  whose  head  a  price  was  set. 

"  That  was  a  fancy  shot,  Jim,"  cried  Bayard. 

"Gather  in  our  men;  we'll  get  over,"  said  Leaven- 
worth, in  a  cold  tone.  "We  have  no  time  to  lose.  Stop 
that  shooting  now,  for  God's  sake!"  for  the  volleying 
crack  of  a  dozen  pistols  had  told  of  some  recognized 
marauder's  doom,  while  the  force  on  the  bank  was 
clearing  the  river. 

"  Stand  to  your  arms!  "  he  yelled  quickly,  as  a  body 
of  horse  bore  down  from  the  mesquit  grove  above 
them.  The  startled  Texans  sprang  to  their  defense, 
but  a  shout  reassured  them.  With  a  cheer  thirty  caval- 
rymen dashed  up,  stout  Lieutenant  Buller  at  their  head. 

"Ha,  Jimmy,  the  work  is  over!  What  can  I  do? 
We  came  down  on  the  run."  He  grasped  Leavenworth's 
hands  as  he  swung  from  the  saddle. 

"  Buller,  let  a  sergeant  and  ten  men  hold  these 
prisoners.  We  will  cross  at  once.  You  know  all."  His 
voice  was  trembling  with  excitement. 

Bayard  strode  up.  "  I've  got  a  flat  here  and  the  first 
party  are  crossing  now.  There's  two  dug-outs  also." 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  325 

"Have  you  searched  the  whole  ranch?"  said  Buller 
coolly. 

"There's  nothing  in  the  burning  huts,"  quietly 
answered  Colonel  Ford.  «  Ten  killed,  three  prisoners, 
besides  those  shot  in  the  river.  Some  women  and 
youngsters  here.  Three  of  our  men  too  badly  hurt  to 
ride.  Anderson  and  Ellis  are  gone.  No  help! "  The  old 
ranger  looked  grave. 

"See  here,"  said  the  quick-witted  cavalry  officer; 
"  leave  your  wounded  with  my  sergeant's  guard. — 
Let  us  take  all  the  male  prisoners  over.  We  will  keep 
every  one  of  the  others  till  you're  back.  I'll  see  they 
don't  starve.  I've  got  a  wagon  coming.  We'll  force 
the  truth  out  of  these  fellows  and  take  one  along  as  a 
guide,  or  two  if  needs  be." 

In  half  an  hour  the  whole  Texan  party  was  on  the 
Mexican  side  of  the  river.  The  united  force  had,  in  all, 
seven  prisoners.  A  rough  ordeal  of  questioning  forced 
the  truth  out  of  the  frightened  bandits. 

"  Pick  out  your  two  men  as  guides,"  said  Buller, 
as  he  rapidly  made  his  plans.  "  I'll  send  three 
men  back  to  the  fort.  It  seems  Maxan  divided  his 
party.  He  evidently  went  to  his  lair  with  your  sister. 
The  other  gang  are  making  a  diversion  to  throw  any 
rescue  party  off  their  guard.  He  did  not  know  you 
were  so  far  down  the  Valley.  Now,  we  will  start  out  a 
company  to  cut  off  their  retreat,  and  send  two  or  three 
express  riders  to  post  McNally.  They  will  be  between 
two  fires.  Sergeant!  Take  these  fellows  over,  tie 
them  up,  shoot  them  if  they  try  to  escape !  Come  back 
for  the  note  to  the  Commander.  Be  quick,  for  we  will 
be  off  soon !" 

Tom  Bayard  had  already  rallied  the  Texans,  and  their 
animals  were  resting,  while  the  men  searched  the  huts 
on  the  Mexican  side  for  food,  anc 
pouring  coffee  for  the  tired  rangers. 


326  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"Get  Bayard  and  Ford  and  bring  Manson  here;  we 
will  have  a  talk  alone." 

Jack's  heart  warmed  to  the  keen-eyed  young  trooper. 
As  they  sat  in  a  deserted  hut,  Buller  passed  around  his 
flask  and  cigars.  "It's  now  ten  o'clock;  nothing  has 
got  away  from  here  to  carry  the  news.  But  this  fellow 
Ramon  is  no  fool.  He  will  be  on  the  lookout  till  it's 
dark.  If  we  moved  right  on  his  place,  we  would 
arrive  tired  and  wearied.  About  ten  or  eleven  o'clock 
to-night  is  the  time  to  storm  his  place;  I  know  it  well." 

"You!"  cried  all  the  listeners  in  amazement. 

"Yes,  I  do!"  said  Buller.  "Two  years  ago,  I  went 
over  on  a  secret  mission  to  watch  the  Kickapoo  and 
Lipan  camps,  about  fifty  miles  above  here.  We  really 
drove  those  fellows  over  on  the  Mexicans.  Colonel 
Mejia  and  myself  took  a  look  at  their  surroundings. 
He  had  secret  orders,  through  Minister  Romero,  and 
General  Ord  detailed  me.  Now,  we  went  incognito. 
Maxan  was  in  Europe  and  I  rested  a  week  at  the  old 
Bishop's  palace.  You  see,  I  had  a  three-hundred-mile 
ride  to  San  Antonio  before  me  to  report  to  General 
Ord.  Colonel  Mejia  was  in  command  at  Matamoras 
and  had  to  report  there.  I  staid  there,  and  I  slipped 
over  the  river  quietly  near  Ringgold  Barracks.  There 
was  a  decent  fellow  named  Antonio  there,  who,  I  really 
think,  was  a  priest  left  to  watch  over  the  place  when 
the  clergy  were  driven  out.  There  is  property  proba- 
bly buried  there,  which  they  could  not  remove.  It's  an 
old  trick  of  the  Padres." 

He  paused  and  took  a  draught  of  the  flask.  «  I've  got 
an  army  commission  to  lose.  I  can  not  bring  troops  over 
here,  so  if  you  don't  recognize  my  men  when  they  cross, 
do  not  laugh.  We  will  picket  this  bank.  I'll  put  a 
herd-guard  over  the  horses.  At  five  o'clock  we  will 
start.  I  will  lead  you  up  into  the  canon  I  came  down, 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 


327 


and  about  ten  o'clock  we  will  drop  in  on  the  'Jaguar',  as 
they  call  him.  I  will  show  you  the  way.  Now  Colonel 
Ford  and  I  will  do  the  fighting.  You  three  pick  three 
more  men  and  make  a  dash  straight  for  your  sister! 
Maxan  is  brave.  He'll  defend  the  'paseo,'  and  you 
may  have  your  sister  in  your  arms  before  the  gate  is 
forced,  if  you  do  as  I  say.  What  do  you  think?" 

"  Duller,  do  you  mean  to  say  you  will  really  do  this??' 
Jimmy  Leavenworth  bowed  his  head,  and  the  tears 
rained  down  his  cheeks. 

"  Nonsense,  man!  don't  you  remember  I  danced  the 
Virginia  Reel  with  your  sister  when  she  was  '  little 
Katie'  and  wore  a  school-girl  braid.  Why,  I've  broken 
your  bread!  She's  Miss  Katie  now!  God  bless  her!" 

"  Amen,"  said  his  listeners.  The  gay  young  soldier 
rose.  There  was  a  lump  in  his  throat.  He  tried  a 
diversion.  He  could  not  hear  the  agony  of  the  two 
friends. 

"  See  my  ragamuffins,"  he  merrily  cried.  In  fact 
that  crack  troop  of  the  Fourth  Regulars  looked  like 
the  advance  guard  of  Fra  Diavolo's  bandits.  Clad  in 
caught-up  raiment  of  the  Mexicans,  in  borrowed  jackets 
of  the  rangers,  or  in  their  gray  shirts,  with  every  class 
of  head  gear,  save  the  army  cap,  they  were  gaily  com- 
menting on  each  other's  appearance  as  they  crowded 
the  flat-boat. 

"  I  have  given  them  individually  a  day's  furlough,  and 
the  sergeant  and  bugler  are  at  my  military  headquarters. 
The  only  risk  I  do  take  is  their  desertion,  but  no  man 
has  ever  left  K  troop's  ranks  on  such  a  mission ! " 

With  fatherly  persuasion,  Colonel  Ford  persuaded 
the  anxious  youths  to  try  a  siesta,  as  hammocks 
swung  in  the  lonely  huts.  The  long  afternoon  droned 
away,  the  only  sound  being  the  tinkle  of  the  herd- 
bell  and  the  distant  wailing  of  the  women  and  children 


328  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

on  the  farther  bank.  The  command  was  ready  at  last 
to  move. 

"Buller,"  said  Leaven  worth,  who  was  now  cool  and 
hopeful,  "send  word  over  to  your  sergeant  to  give  these 
poor  women  a  half-wagon-load  of  rations,  and  I  will 
see  they  have  some  money,  if  I  live,"  he  said  gloomily, 
for  the  vision  of  Gertie  Marshall  hovered  before  him 
always. 

Thanks  to  the  bad  character  of  the'  Las  Cuevas  cross- 
ing, all  respectable  Mexican  travellers  up  the  Rio  Grande 
gave  it  a  wide  berth.  The  sixty  men  in  three  squads 
moved  steadily  out,  bearing  southwest  toward  Hacienda 
Maxan;  at  the  head  of  each  flanking  column  a  prisoner 
rode  beside  a  man  bearing  a  cocked  revolver.  The 
stern  orders  were,  "Death  in  return  for  treachery!'' 
Buller  led  the  central  squad,  the  flankers  guiding  upon 
his  movements.  Ten  miles  from  the  river  they  entered 
a  thick  forest,  where  the  afternoon  sun  was  veiled  by 
the  spreading  branches.  Nothing  but  a  stray  steer  was 
met,  or  a  wild  peccary,  perchance  a  deer  bounding 
from  the  covert,  and,  rising  from  the  plain  of  Nueva 
Leon,  the  rescue  party  climbed  a  gentle  slope  of  nearly 
two  thousand  feet.  It  was  nine  o'clock  when  Buller, 
enjoining  silence,  turned  abruptly  to  the  left  and  led  the 
command  carefully  through  a  little  notch  in  the  hills. 
The  word  "Halt!"  was  passed.  Enjoining  every  care 
as  to  horses  and  arms,  the  hawk-eyed  lieutenant  walked 
forward  to  a  shelving  rock  with  the  Texan  leaders. 
Below  them,  in  a  turn  of  the  valley,  the  white  walls  of 
Hacienda  Maxan  were  plainly  visible!  A  mile  below, 
on  the  hillsides,  a  few  lights  indicated  the  tributary  vil- 
lage of  Zacate. 

"  The  Padres  never  liked  the  vulgar  to  live  too  near 
them,"  said  Buller  musingly.  "  Let  me  see.  I  never 
knew  a  Mexican  establishment  to  keep  late  hours.  It's 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  329 

after  nine  now !  If  Maxan  is  there,  his  march  and  the 
cares  of  his  prisoner,  as  well  as  his  dispositions  for 
guard,  have  tiled  him.  He  will  naturally  guard  the 
Zacate  road.  Now  Bayard,  Manson,  and  Jim,  you  can 
see  that  long  front  looking  down  the  exquisite 
valley  of  Zacate.  The  state  apartments  are  the  second 
floor  facing  the  river.  I  have  no  doubt  the  main  gate 
of  the  paseo  is  well  guarded  by  sentinels,  perhaps  even 
barricaded.  The  heavy  garden  sweeps  up  to  the  broad 
platform,  along  the  river-front.  The  great  windows 
open  to  the  terrace.  There  is  a  rear  doorway  to  the 
corrals  and  pastures  wherein  four  men  can  enter  abreast. 
My  plan  is  to  ride  down  in  the  rear,  and  leave  our 
animals  with  fifteen  horse-holders.  You  will  take  ten 
men  (removing  your  spurs  and  canteens).  Keep  only 
your  pistols  and  knives.  I'll  send  two  trusty  fellows 
with  you.  I've  made  some  rag  fire-balls  with  kerosene 
and  some  tatters  I  picked  up.  There  are  two  feed- 
lags  full  of  them.  Gain  position  near  the  terrace. 
When  you  "hear  our  first  firing,  burst  in  the  terrace 
windows  and  rush  upstairs.  I  leave  the  rest  to  you. 
Maxan  has  no  one  whom  he  can  trust!  He  will  dash 
out  at  the  first  alarm  and  rally  his  men  from  the  front 
gate-way  to  meet  us.  We  will  give  them  a  cool  volley 
as  they  rush  out.  Our  first  fire  will  be  only  an  alarm 
as  we  take  post  in  the  paseo.  Don't  fret  about  us. 
We  will  finish  them  up.  Never  you  mind  Maxan.  He 
may  escape!  I  will  run  him  down  later!  As  for  the 
Zacate  villagers,  they  are  a  poor-spirited  set  of  unarmed 
peons.  We  will  push  back  at  once  to  the  Rio  Grande 
if  your  sister  is  there.  If  she  is  not,  we  will  twist  the 
truth  out  of  these  devil's  necks,  and  race  along  like 
devils  on  the  trail." 

"  Let  us  go  on ! "  hoarsely  cried  Jack  Manson. 

"  Remember,  not  a  move,  not  a  shot,  till  I  send  you 
on  your  way!" 


330  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

In  single  file  the  riders  descended  the  easy  hill,  and 
before  ten  o'clock,  were  formed  in  a  dismounted  line 
five  hundred  yards  behind  the  corral  wall. 

"Dismount!"  was  passed  from  man  to  man,  and,  led 
by  the  light-footed  Buller,  the  avengers  stole  on,  in 
shadow  and  under  cover,  to  the  junction  of  the  corral 
wall,  the  building,  and  the  low  hedge  of  Spanish  bayonet 
around  the  deserted  garden  where  the  sleek  priests 
were  wont  to  pace. 

"Thank  God,  the  wind  favors  us!  If  our  horses 
should  neigh,  they  would  think  it  their  own  stock," 
thought  Buller,  as  he  pointed  out  the  way  to  the 
Texans,  whose  pulses  were  now  throbbing  in  repressed 
excitement. 

The  heavy  white  walls  gleamed  ghostly  in  the  star- 
light, and  not  a  sound  escaped  from  the  Wolf's  Den! 

While  the  storming  party  for  the  front  filed  silently 
by,  led  by  Bronco  Bill,  and  Buller  exchanged  a  few 
last  whispered  words  with  Manson,  Bayard,  and  Leaven- 
worth,  Colonel  Ford's  silver  head  was  bared  as  he 
warmly  pressed  the  young  men's  hands  and  then  stole 
away  to  hold  the  eager  men  quiet  in  their  line  behind 
the  paseo  entrance. 

Pacing  up  and  down  like  a  caged  tiger  in  the  great 
hall  of  the  hacienda,  not  fifty  yards  away,  Ramon, 
"  el  Jaguar"  watchfully  gazed  down  the  winding  road 
to  Zacate.  The  light  from  his  open  windows  streamed 
out  over  the  terrace  and  lit  up  the  broad  road,  paved 
with  irregular  stones,  leading  to  the  river  entrance  to 
the  paseo.  On  the  table  near  him  his  Winchester 
lay  ready,  and  on  his  person  two  heavy  revolvers  and 
a  bowie-knife  hung  from  his  riding-belt.  His  jacket 
was  tossed  aside,  and  he  showed  every  grace  of  his 
splendid  torso  as  he  smoked  uneasily.  His  furtive 
glances  ever  sought  the  silent  roadway. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  33! 

"  I  was  a  fool,  a  blind  fool!  "  he  mused,  "  to  let  those 
two  women  meet.  I  do  not  care  for  Panchita's  tantrums; 
she  will  be  cured  of  that  by  and  by,"  he  sneered,  with 
a  sinister  smile  of  dark  prophecy..  "  But  her  mother, 
old  Nordenskiold's  friend  of  years  ago!  Her  convent 
life  at  Laredo!  D — n  her  jealousy!  I  should  have 
sent  her  away.  But  where!  Can  I  trust  any  one?  I 
should  have  let  Antonio  take  her  away  to  Monterey, 
and  kept  Caballo  Blanco  here  to  hold  this  place!  Then 
I  could  have  tamed  this  young  hawk  at  my  leisure! 
Over  in  Monclova  or  Chihuahua  I  could  have  hidden 
her  with  his  friends.  I  could  demand  my  terms  or  a 
ransom.  But  that  beast  Mejia  at  Matamoras  would 
have  beaten  up  this  camp  if  he  dreamed  that  Caballo 
Blanco  lingered  here.  He  never  forgets  a  feud!  That 
comes  of  my  killing  his  brother  Andres  for  mere  spite! 

"  Now,  my  scouts  will  give  me  instant  warning  of 
any  more  up  the  road  from  Matamoras,  or  the  river. 
I  am  tolerably  safe  for  a  week.  Caballo  Blanco's 
united  band,  when  the  up-country  fellows  come  back 
to  Las  Cuevas,  will  make  fifty  good  fellows  there. 
The  lazy  Gringo  troops  will  not  mix  up  in  this.  They 
would  have  to  have  official  permission  to  cross!  The 
natural  jealousy  of  our  river  people  will  cause  them 
to  notify  Mejia  if  the  Texans  should  be  mad  enough  to 
come  once  in  a  body.  But,  spies,  assassins,  treachery ! 
They  have  money.  This  fool  of  a  Panchita!  Would 
she  smuggle  any  news  over  to  the  other  side  ?  Not  after 
the  ceremony  of  last  nig  Jit !  She  thinks  that  I  have 
run  the  girl  off  for  a  ransom.  I  will  send  the  Texan 
girl  up  into  the  mountains  when  Caballo  Blanco  comes 
back." 

Maxan  shivered.  "  The  air  is  chilly,"  he  muttered, 
as  he  closed  one  window.  Draining  a  glass  of  brandy, 
he  gazed  on  his  map.  "  Yes!  The  fellows  leading  the 


332  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

pursuers  a  dance  ought  to  be  back  at  Las  Cuevas  now. 
By  to-morrow  night  Caballo  Blanco  will  be  here.  I 
will  send  the  Texan  girl  away.  I  can  then  slip  away 
with '  Sefiora  Maxan '  if  the  enemy  approach.  Reverend 
Antonio  can  tell  the  story:  I  am  at  Tainpico  on  busi- 
ness. Thank  God  I  came  over  here,  instead  of  chasing 
those  fellows  up  country.  There  are  no  witnesses  to 
this  girl's  kidnapping.  No  blood  was  shed.  No  traces 
left.  She  will  never  live  to  tell  this  story!  That  mock 
marriage  has  quieted  Panchita.  But,  am  I  safe  in 
leaving  those  women  together?  It  seems  to  me  that 
the  sex  has  a  capacity  for  sudden  love,  or  hatred",  which 
is  astounding. 

"  Panchita,  the  love-sick  fool,  wanted  to  knife  her 
at  first.  Now,  they  are  doing  the  sisterly  comedy !  " 
He  threw  away  his  cigar.  "  There  never  was  a 
woman  to  be  trusted !  As  -varying  as  the  sea  and  clouds  ! 
Sleek  devils! 

"  But  /  trust  gold,  and  a  good  knife ! "  He  wheeled 
quickly.  "  I  must  reward  Antonio  for  this  mock  mar- 
riage. He  has  just  enough  priestcraft  in  him  to  have  a 
greedy  palm !  Goldior  the  man,fattery  for  the  woman ! 
I'll  set  him  to  watch  them  both.  I'll  call  him  and  give 
him  a  sack  of  yellow  ounces.  He  shall  have  more  if 
he  fools  the  woman  and  tells  a  smooth  lie  to  Mejia  if  a 
row  is  kicke*d  up  about  this.  They  will  find  only  an 
empty  house."  He  laughed  as  he  lifted  a  red  floor-tile 
behind  the  first  window  recess  and  drew  out  a  heavy 
sack.  "  The  bishop,  I  suppose,  kept  his  love  letters  and 
his  scheming  letters  to  Rome  hidden  here!  Now  for 
Father  Antonio.  I'll  tickle  his  greed  and  promise  him 
a  golden  harvest.  He  is  the  man!  I'll  send  off  the 
Texan  girl;  then,  Sefiora  Panchita,  I'll  put  you  where 
you  will  not  bother  me,  as  I  go  to  Monclova.  That's 
a  little  bit  of  fine  art  in  the  Rigoletto  style 'of  my  own! 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  333 

Jesus  Maria!"  he  cried, dropping  the  gold,  as  a  ringing 
volley  and  a  chorus  of  yells  rose  on  the  still  night  air. 
He  grasped  his  rifle  and  rushed  down  the  broad  stair  to 
the  court-yard. 

"The  Indians!  The  Kickapoos  have  attacked  the 
corrals!  Alerto!  Alerto!  Todos!"  he  yelled,  as  he 
dashed  into  the  broad  court-yard. 

Smooth-faced  Antonio  rushed  into  the  upper  cor- 
ridor, as  the  yells  alarmed  him,  only  to  hear  two 
women's  voices  in  wild  shrieks  add  to  the  clamor.  For 
the  crash  of  glass  and  wild  cries  below  proved  that  the 
main  hacienda  had  been  forced! 

A  chorus  of  yells  "Los  Tejanos!  Los  Tejanos!" 
recalled  Maxan  to  his  senses.  Throwing  down  his  rifle, 
which  he  was  firing  at  the  crowd  swarming  into  the 
back  entrance,  he  leapt  back  like  a  panther.  "Out- 
witted, by  God!  Follow!  Follow  me!"  he  cried,  as 
the  guard  of  the  front  postern  swarmed  toward  the 
stairway.  By  the  light  of  a  blazing  fire-ball,  he  saw 
through  powder- smoke  the  face  of  his  deadly  foe! 
The  man  who  struck  him  down  at  the  Club  was  firing 
into  the  advancing  retainers! 

Half  the  gate-guard  were  now  struggling  in  a  wild 
melee  with  the  troops  led  by  Buller,  and  up  the  stair 
and  in  the  upper  corridor,  the  invaders  and  the  Mex- 
icans reeled  in  deathly  struggle!  "Go  on!  Go  on!" 
rose  the  clarion  voice  of  Buller,  as  he  swept  into  the 
lower  hall  with  his  men  loudly  cheering! 

Springing  along  the  hallway,  Jack  Manson  followed 
the  sound  of  the  voice  which  he  had  heard  raised  to  God 
in  appeal  in  the  crisis  of  the  storm !  Dashing  through 
the  curtained  archway,  Manson  clasped  Katie  in  his 
arms,  as  she  fell  fainting  on  his  bosom ! 

Tom  Bayard  wheeled  at  the  door,  as  he  faced  the 
last  of  the  Mexicans  now  hemmed  in,  for  Buller  had 


334  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

cleared  the  hall.  Bayard  threw  down  his  empty  pistol 
and  drew  his  knife,  dashing  at  Maxan,  who  stood  at 
bay  near  an  open  window!  As  Leavenworth  wheeled 
to  raise  his  reserve  pistol,  Maxan's  revolver  rang  out 
sharply.  Jimmy  staggered,  and  fell  in  Tom  Bayard's 
arms,  as  Maxan,  leaping  lightly  through  the  open  case- 
ment to  the  paseo  roof,  disappeared  in  the  darkness! 

"After  him!  After  him! "yelled  Bayard,  as  he  knelt 
by  the  wounded  man.  A  dozen  soldiers,  with  Buller 
leading,  then  rushed  down  the  stair. 

There  was  a  pause,  broken  only  by  the  groans  of  the 
dying  and  the  cheers  of  the  victors.  The  Hacienda 
Maxan  was  won!  Colonel  Ford's  clear  voice  was  heard 
ringing  out  below:  "Search  the  house!  Put  out  the 
fires!  Bring  all  the  prisoners  into  the  court-yard!  " 

The  light  streamed  out  of  the  room  where  Katie 
Leavenworth  was  clinging  to  Jack  Manson's  bosom 
and  wildly  crying!  Beside  her  stood  the  dark-eyed, 
gentle  Panchita,  her  raven  hair  flowing  over  a  gown 
not  as  white  as  her  own  ghastly  face! 

Bayard,  his  bosom  heaving  in  sorrow,  aided  by 
willing  hands,  Bronco  Bill  at  their  head,  bore  the 
wounded  brother  into  the  only  lighted  room.  And  as 
they  laid  him  on  a  couch,  Jimmy  Leaven  worth's  sister 
threw  herself  on  her  knees  beside  him. 

"Speak  to  me,  darling!  For  God's  sake,  only  speak, 
Jimmy!"  Over  him  bent  the  beautiful  stranger,  her 
hands  crossed  on  her  exquisite  bosom. 

Jack  Manson,  smoke-grimed,  and  with  staring  eyes, 
faltered:  "The  vision!  The  vis?on!"  and  threw  him- 
self down  at  the  feet  of  Katie's  brother. 

"My  God!  A  doctor!  A  doctor!"  cried  Bayard,  as 
he  loosened  Leavenworth's  hunting-vest.  The  pallor 
of  death  was  on  the  Texan's  brow,  and  from  his  right 
side  the  warm  life-blood  was  oozing. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  335 

"Antonio!  Antonio  is  a  doctor!"  cried  the  Spanish 
girl, awaking  from  her  trance.  "Call  el  major-domo!" 

"Bring  him,  Ford.     Is  he  here?"  said  Bayard. 

In  a  moment  the  grave- faced  intendant  entered  the 
room,  followed  by  Buller 

"I  know  this  man;  it's  all  right,"  he  hastily  said,  as 
he  laid  his  hand  on  Leavenworth's  pallid  brow. 

Quiet  now  reigned,  and  lights  were  lit  over  the 
hacienda.  Colonel  Ford  had  posted  his  sentinels,  and 
the  main  body  of  the  besiegers  was  rallied  in  the  paseo. 
Buller,  returning  from  his  vain  quest  for  the  vanished 
scoundrel  Maxan,  had  thrown  out  pickets  and  set 
guards  on  the  gates. 

"  Quiet,  all ! "  said  Antonio,  with  dignity.  "  I  must 
have  free  hands  and  my  own  people  to  help." 

Bayard  drew  Panchita  away  for  a  moment. 

"  Buller,  single  out  the  house-servants  from  the 
prisoners  and  let  them  pass  one  by  one  through  the 
lower  hall  with  a  guard.  Tell  me  the  ones  you  want," 
he  said,  as  Panchita  moved  away  with  him. 

Bayard,  pistol  in  hand,  watched  the  simple  peasants, 
as  the  lady  of  the  hacienda  indicated  them.  Their 
docile  faces  told  the  story  of  innocence. 

"  Go  to  your  places  and  obey  Antonio  only,"  said 
Bayard  kindly. 

The  room  where  Leavenworth  lay  in  collapse  was 
quiet  as  the  two  re-entered.  Antonio,  in  brief  Spanish 
words,  directed  Panchita,  who  glided  like  a  beauteous 
wraith  in  and  out  on  his  behest.  A  draught  of  brandy 
and  the  strongest  restoratives  were  administered  by  the 
quiet  man  of  the  crisis.  No  one  dreamed  now  of  doubt- 
ing Antonio's  skill.  His  self-possession  proved  a  long 
experience ! 

The  wounded  man  groaned  as  Antonio  cut  away  the 
blood-soaked  clothing  around  the  wound.  With  a 


336  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

grave  air,  the  examiner  followed  the  course  of  the  ball, 
and  noted  the  color  faintly  returning  to  the  Texan's 
face. 

Ford  had  examined  the  second  story  of  the  hacienda, 
and  his  headquarters  were  established  in  Maxan's  great 
hall.  One  by  one  the  spectators  withdrew  to  their 
duties.  The  old  mansion  was  wrapped  in  silence.  In 
a  deep  chair,  with  Panchita  at  her  side,  Katie  Leaven- 
worth  silently  awaited  the  verdict!  Her  little  hand 
clutched  Jack  Manson's  bronzed  fingers  as  he  exchanged 
a  whispered  word  with  Buller. 

"Got  clean  away.  Maxan  knew  every  turn!  We 
were  nearly  all  strangers  to  the  place.  I  could  have 
headed  him  off,  but  I  was  clearing  out  that  robber  riff- 
raff. He  dropped  off  into  the  garden  and  is  now  in  the 
hills.  But  we'll  have  him  yet.  See,  Tom,"  the  cool 
soldier  whispered,  "  the  blood  only  oozes.  No  jetting. 
Now,  if  he  does  not  bleed  internally." 

Antonio,  with  uplifted  fingers,  hushed  the  friendly 
murmur.  Passing  his  hand  around  the  sufferer's  chest, 
Antonio  smiled  as  Leavenworth  half-opened  his  eyes 
and  cried:  "Lookout!  You  torture  me." 

The  major-domo  turned  to  the  waiting  circle.  "  In 
the  back  muscles!  Much  pain!  A  great  shock!  The 
ball  is  heavy  and  was  fired  at  short  range.  Little 
danger  if  he  does  not  catch  cold.  I  'will  answer  for 
his  life." 

"You  shall  have  his  weight  in  gold  if  he  lives!" 
cried  Tom  Bayard,  as  he  threw  his  arms  around  Katie, 
whose  eyes  shone  with  an  ecstasy  of  thankfulness. 

"  No  more  tears,  Katie.  Our  boy  will  live.  Now, 
Lady  Bird,  we  will  guard  your  sleep,  and  to-morrow — 
to-morrow,  homeward!" 

"I'll  not  leave  Jimmy,  never!"  faltered  the  white  lady, 
as  she  smiled  through  her  tears  at  Jack  Manson. 


FOR   LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


337 


"Well,  you'll  have  to  give  him  up  to  Gertie  by  and 
by.  You  may  as  well  learn  to  live  'without  him" 
whispered  Bayard,  smiling,  as  Panchita  led  the  way  to 
the  chamber  hastily  arranged  for  the  ladies. 

"One  moment.  This  is  a  father's  duty!"  gravely 
said  the  gray-haired  Colonel  Ford.  "I've  daughters 
of  my  own.  I'll  just  reconnoitre  your  room.  Good! 
No  one  can  reach  it  from  without.  I  have  three  men 
already  posted  under  the  windows.  I'll  spread  my  robe 
and  sleep  before  your  door,  and  there'll  be  a  sentinel 
in  the  hall.  I'll  kiss  ye  good-night,  for  I  held  you  on 
my  knee  when  you  were  a  babe.  Your  father  and 
mother  must  see  you  again  as  quick  as  wheels  will 
travel!" 

"  And  Jimmy?  "  the  reluctant  girl  murmured,  as  she 
paused  at  the  threshold. 

Panchita,  standing  with  a  light  shining  on  her  deli- 
cate loveliness,  shading  with  one  transparent  hand  her 
liquid  eyes,  softly  said:  "7 'will  nurse  him!" 

Colonel  Ford  rubbed  his  silver  locks  uneasily.  "Ah, 
yes!  I  see!  Very  good.  A  dangerous  nurse"  he 
grumbled,  as  the  young  beauties  dropped  the  heavy 
leather  curtain  of  their  room.  "A.  very  dangerous 
nurse!  Too  good-looking  for  safety,"  grumbled  the 
old  man,  as  he  laid  his  replenished  pistols  within  reach. 

With  friendly  officiousness,  Bayard,  Manson,  and 
Buller  had  agreed  to  watch  the  hacienda  for  the  rest 
of  the  eventful  night.  They  were  mindful  of  the  old 
veteran's  stiffened  joints.  It  was  nearly  midnight. 
Escorted  by  four  soldiers  each,  their  arms  at  a  ready, 
the  three  friends  made  the  rounds.  A  huge  fire  blazed 
in  the  middle  of  the  paseo,  and,  guarded  by  four  men 
with  cocked  revolvers,  a  score  of  villainous-looking  ras- 
cals crouched  on  the  stony  floor  of  the  court.  They 
were  tied  together,  back  to  back,  and  by  no  gentle 
hands. 


338  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

"  How  far  out  are  your  pickets  on  the  road, 
Duller?  "  said  Bayard,  as  the  three  heroes  of  the  night 
strolled  up  to  look  at  the  howling  prisoners. 

"  About  a  half-mile.  I  have  five  men  and  a  good 
corporal  there.  There  is  an  ambushed  reserve,  too,  of  five 
of  your  men.  I  gave  orders  for  them  to  seize  and  dis- 
arm any  one  passing  in  either  direction.  There  are 
four  mounted  men  patrolling  from  our  main  post 
here  to  that  picket.  There  will  be  no  rescue.  I 
have  looked  these  fellows  over,"  he  said  in  a  low  voice. 
"  I  know  that  a  half-dozen  of  them  merit  instant  death ! 
But,  I  have  no  official  power  here.  The  killing  of  prison- 
ers might  be  inquired  into.  I  might  turn  them  over  to 
Mejia  at  ^Mutamoras.  Then,  by  Jove!  I'd  have  to  tell 
him  ho'W  I  got  them,  and  where  I  nabbed  them!  " 

Bronco  Bill  strode  up  and,  in  an  agitated  voice, 
demanded  of  Bayard:  "  Will  he  live?  "  Bill's  face  was 
convulsed  with  rage.  There  were  murmurs  from  the 
mixed  crowd  of  plainsmen  and  soldiers  now  glowering  at 
the  bandits.  Three  soldiers  and  two  cowboys  lay  dead, 
and  a  half-dozen  severely  wounded  waited  the  care  of 
Antonio,  whose  fame  had  been  noised  around.  "  A 
doctor  priest,  a  real  scholar !  "  so  the  tale  was  bandied. 

"  It's  a  bad  wound  and  will  be  a  sore  one,  Bill,"  said 
Colonel  Bayard,  "  but  the  ball  ran  round  on  the  ribs 
and  is  in  the  back  muscles.  This  chap  says  he'll  take 
it  out,  as  soon  as  daylight  comes.  There'll  be  a  couple 
of  weeks  of  stiffness  and  soreness,  but  the  boy  will  live 
to  dance  the  Virginia  Reel  at  San  Miguel  when  he 
brings  that  pretty  girl  down  from  the  Potomac!" 

«•  All  right,  Colonel.  I'll  take  your  word  for  it.  The 
boys  allowed  they  would  kill  all  these  prisoners  if 
Leavenvoorth  died!" 

"Bill,  for  heaven's  sake,  no  noise  to-night!  The 
racket  might  finish  Jimmy !  He's  very  weak  from  loss 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  339 

of  blood,  and  the  women  are  frantic!  I  suppose  we'll 
have  to  take  that  pretty  Mexican  girl  over  the  river 
with  us! " 

"  We  can't  leave  her  here  in  this  lonely  roost!  Ah! 
they're  at  it  again  below!"  quickly  cried  Bayard,  his 
quick  ear  catching  the  report  of  a  couple  of  dropping 
shots. 

"Don't  move,  Colonel!  My  pickets  will  have  a 
report  here  in  five  minutes,"  quietly  said  Buller.  "  They 
have  probably  caught  a  straggler  or  one  of  this  vanished 
scoundrel's  messengers." 

"  Buller,  you  are  a  wizard ! "  said  Manson,  as  ten 
minutes  later  two  of  the  Texan  reserve  led  in  a  stunted- 
looking  scoundrel  on  a  pony.  His  hands  were  tied 
and  he  cowered  under  the  pistol  of  one  guard,  while 
the  other  held  his  horse's  halter. 

"  Oh,  the  frontier  is  about  the  same  from  Guaymas  to 
Tampico.  The  same  deviltry,  only  at  different  times 
and  places.  What's  his  story?"  said  the  cavalryman 
carelessly. 

"  This  fellow  clattered  up  the  road  in  a  panic  and  ran 
slap  into  us!"  said  a  hard-faced  Texan.  "We  had  to 
kill  his  horse  to  get  him.  He  claims  to  be  a  soldier! 
He  says  Colonel  Mejia  is  coming  up  the  road  with  a 
battalion  of  the  Lancers!" 

"  Glorious !  Great  God !  I  am  now  all  right  /"  shouted 
Buller,  dancing  around  in  glee.  "  It  clears  me  of  all 
responsibility." 

"  What  do  you  mean?  "  cried  Bayard  and  Jack  Man- 
son  in  a  breath. 

"  First,  Mejia's  a  thorough  soldier,"  gleefully  said  the 
snappy  officer;  " second,  he'll  relieve  me  of  all  these 
prisoners.  I  will  ask  him  to  send  a  dispatch  over  the 
Mexican  military  telegraph  everywhere  proclaiming 
Maxan  as  an  outlaw  I  They  will  soon  chase  that  scoun. 


340  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

drel  to  Yucatan  or  over  the  big  bend  of  the  Rio  Grande 
into  No  Man's  Land!  If  he  goes  Mere,  sooner  or  later 
we'll  get  him !  I  can  say  that  I  crossed  at  Mejia's  request. 
I  will  have  him  send  a  military  courier  and  telegraph 
to  Matamoras  and  Corpus  Christi  the  news  of  Miss 
Katie's  safety." 

"  That's  thoughtful!  By  to-morrow  night  the  San 
Miguel  people  will  know  the  good  news!  Say,  too,  I'm 
bringing  her  home,"  cried  Bayard. 

"  Then  Mejia  and  I  will  plant  some  of  his  men  in 
quiet  ambush  on  this  side  of  the  river.  We  will  leave 
a  company  hidden  here.  I  will  dash  across  and  stir  up 
those  bandits  on  the  other  side,  and  we  will  break  up 
that  half  the  gang.  Colonel  Mejia  will  send  a  com- 
pany to  escort  you  and  Miss  Katie  to  Ringgold.  It's 
your  easiest  way  home.  As  soon  as  I've  arranged  our 
stories  I'll  start  two  men  to  report  to  my  commander 
and  get  carriages  ready  for  you.  Get  Miss  Katie 
across  the  river.  I  wish  to  know  from  her  how  she 
was  ever  carried  off  from  such  a  place ! " 

"  Well,  the  morning  will  tell  us  all.  It's  two  o'clock 
now.  See  here,  Bill!  You  and  the  sergeant  take 
charge  here.  We  three  will  ride  down  and  meet  Mejia's 
column,"  said  Tom  Bayard.  "  There  might  be  stray 
firing  or  a  squabble." 

"  Right  you  are,"  said  his  listeners  in  chorus. 
"  Our  men  might  be  taken  for  a  raiding  party  of 
ranchers." 

Ten  minutes  later,  a  little  thin-lipped  horseman,  with 
a  huge  dangling  sabre,  and  a  princely  equestrian  skill, 
rode  in  at  the  open  gateway.  Chatting  with  the  three 
Americans,  he  threw  away  his  cigarette,  as  he  rode 
straight  to  the  camp-fire.  A  dozen  of  his  escort  and 
two  guides  were  with  him.  He  sprang  from  his  horse 
and  sent  an  orderly  officer  to  camp  his  battalion  in  four 
lines  around  the  hacienda, 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


341 


"  Turn  half  the  horses  out  on  the  potrero  under 
guard,  Juan.  Let  the  other  horses  be  fed  in  the  corral." 

As  the  young  officer  saluted,  Mejia's  eagle  eye  fell 
on  the  prisoners.  "  Ladrones!  "  he  hissed,  "  how  many, 
mi  amigo,"  he  said,  with  a  cruel  smile  to  Duller  who 
was  the  negotiator.  "  Let  me  deal  with  him,"  the 
lieutenant  whispered  to  the  Texans,  "  then  it's  all 
official.  You  are  blameless  for  what  will  happen!" 

"  Sefior  Colonel,  I  count  twenty-three,"  said  Buller, 
as  the  guards  stirred  up  the  shivering  wretches. 

"  Send  me  the  adjutant!"  sharply  remarked  Tomas 
Mejia.  The  line  of  frightened  wretches  huddled 
together. 

"What's  up?  "  said  Manson  and  Jack  in  an  under- 
tone to  Buller,  who  gazed  at  the  adjutant  hurrying  up. 

"  He's  a  man  of  queer  ways — is  Commandante 
Tomas  Mejia.  Don't  interfere.  They  are  his  own  peo- 
ple!" said  Buller.  The  bedizened  adjutant,  brilliant  in 
lace,  gazed  respectfully  at  his  stony-faced  chief.  The  two 
Mexican  guides  approached  the  little  Aztec  warrior,  for 
Tomas  Mejia  was  of  the  mystic  "sangre  azule"  of  that 
weird  race  which  has  a  storied  past  but  no  future! 
They  whispered  a  report  and  retired. 

"  Give  el  Sefior  Teniente  Buller  a  written  receipt  for 
twenty-three  ladrones,  adjudged  malefactors,  taken  in 
arms  /"  said  the  Mexican  commander.  The  adjutant 
saluted. 

"And  the  men,  the  prisoners,  sir?  "said  the  young 
officer,  his  voice  shaking  slightly.  There  was  a  solemn 
silence!  The  night  wind  howled  wildly  over  the  open 
court  and  scattered  the  blazing  brands. 

Mejia  signed  to  the  two  guides,  who  sprang  forward. 
"Todas  malos?"  he  coldly  queried.  The  uncovered 
scouts  bowed  in  silence.  "  Take  them  out  and  hang 
them!  No  noise.  Take  them  down  the  road!  Report 


342  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

the  execution  instantly!  You  will  find  me  in  the  dining- 
hall.  Use  the  machete  if  you  need.  No  pistols!" 

The  adjutant  was  shaking  like  a  leaf.  "  What  com- 
mand shall  I  take,  sir?  " 

"  First  company.  Throw  these  fellows  into  the  canon 
when  you  are  finished!"  The  adjutant  fled  away  into 
the  night. 

"Shall  we  go  in,  Senores?"  said  the  Mexican  col- 
onel. "  I  want  a  cup  of  coffee  and  a  few  hours'  sleep." 
He  motioned  with  Castilian  grace  toward  the  hacienda. 

"  That's  Mejia1  s  way/"  whispered  Buller,  as  he  fol- 
lowed the  pitiless  Aztec  soldier. 

Bayard  and  Manson  followed  in  dumb  amazement. 
Before  the  quartette  had  finished  their  coffee,  a  tramp- 
ling of  feet  and  shuffling  announced  the  departure 
of  the  doomed  captives. 

"  There  they  go!"  said  Mejia  carelessly.  '•'•And  a  bad 
lot  they  are!"  He  spoke  simply,  and  with  no  passion. 
With  punctilious  ceremony,  he  escorted  his  guests  to  the 
door,  for  the  three  friends  were  bent  on  sleeping  on  the 
floor  beside  good  old  Ford.  "  I  have  to  be  up  at  day- 
break. You  will  pardon  me."  Mejia  smiled  and  waved 
his  papelito  in  adieu. 

Jack  Manson  rubbed  his  eyes  as  the  singing  bugles  of 
the  Lancers  woke  the  morning  echoes.  Was  it  a  dream  ? 
A  vision  born  of  a  disordered  mind?  No!  The  life- 
blood  bounding  to  his  heart  told  him  that  the  fair  girl 
he  worshipped  was  now  circled  with  a  band  of  invincible 
defenders.  He  moved  his  stiffened  limbs.  His  eyes 
rested  on  Tom  Bayard  who  had  been  watching  his 
slumbers.  Buller  and  Ford  were  gone! 

"  The  old  man  is  an  early  riser.  Let  us  go  down." 
The  friends  sought  the  paseo.  In  the  early  gray  of  dawn, 
the  overjoyed  soldiers  and  Texans  were  recalling  the 
events  of  the  night.  Under  a  horse-shed,  a  line  of  stiffened 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  343 

bodies,  loosely  covered  with  saddle  blankets,  was  proof 
of  the  deadliness  of  the  night  attack.  The  trim  Mex- 
ican adjutant,  heavy-eyed,  was  inspecting  and  gathering 
the  details  for  a  conscientious  official  report. 

"It's  all  up!  Mejia  will  see  you  well  fixed.  I 
leave  as  soon  as  my  men  take  breakfast,"  said  Buller  as 
he  grasped  their  hands.  "  Ford  has  got  your  men  all 
in  comfortable  ease.  Mejia  gives  me  an  escort  of  his 
men!  Now  join  me  at  coffee,  and  then  good-bye  till  we 
meet  at  Ringgold  Barracks.  I  will  get  right  over  the 
river.  After  that,  I  do  not  care  what  happens!  My 
shoulder-straps  are  safe.  I  do  not  want  to  lose  my  cap- 
taincy in  the  Fourth  Cavalry.  I  think  that  I'll  have 
two  bars  on  each  shoulder  at  the  double  wedding." 

"  You  will  have  to  have  devilish  qtiick  promotion  !  " 
said  Tom  Bayard,  with  a  meaning  smile,  as  he  glanced 
at  Jack  Manson,  who  seemed  to  find  no  words.  They 
strolled  over  to  the  dining-hall  where  a  green-jacketed 
sentinel  stood  guard.  a  The  mocking  birds  were  singing 
from  the  dense  groves  whose  friendly  shade  covered 
the  abysmal  canon  where  the  dead  robbers  lay.  Seated 
at  the  table,  Colonel  Mejia  pleasantly  beamed  as  he 
motioned  to  his  visitors. 

"Join  me,  my  friends.  Senor  Padre  Antonio,  you 
know  these  gentlemen  already !  " 

Buller  grasped  the  hands  of  the  grave  intendant,  who 
was  seated  in  confidential  intercourse  with  the  thin- 
faced  Draco  of  the  night. 

"  I  knew  that  you  were  a  good  doctor,  but,  a  priest, 
you  astonish  me !"  said  Colonel  Bayard  in  the  fluent 
Spanish  which,  as  well  as  English,  is  the  duplex  dialect 
of  the  Rio  Grande. 

"  Gentlemen,  Padre  Antonio  has  made  some  disclos- 
ures which  are  of  vital  benefit  to  my  government — so 
important  that  I  will  not  trust  them  even  to  dispatches. 


344  POR   LIFE   AND   LOVE. 

A  special  messenger,  my  adjutant,  will  leave  at  once  for 
the  headquarters  of  General  Trevino,  and  proceed  to 
the  City  of  Mexico  to  see  President  Lerdo.  In  the 
mean  time  Padre  Antonio,  as  Senor  Antonio,  will 
remain  in  charge  here.  I  shall  leave  a  captain  and  a 
company  here.  I  will  be  responsible  for  the  safety  and 
transport  of  Se  or  Leavenworth.  I  know  his  father 
well.  A  great,  a  wonderful  man!  " 

"I  wouldn't  care  to  be  Mejia's  adjutant,"  briskly 
interjected  Buller,  sotto-voce,  as  he  applied  himself  to 
the  breakfast.  He  signed  to  his  friends  to  follow  his 
example. 

"  It  is  a  strange  story.  This  old  bishop's  palace," 
Mejia  continued.  "  I  should  properly  tell  you,  as  you 
leave  your  friend's  life  in  his  hands,  that  Padre  Antonio 
has  voluntarily  assumed  the  civilian  status  to  hold  a 
legal  occupancy  of  the  old  domain.  He  is  an  honorably 
ordained  priest.  Now,  gentlemen,  the  rest  of  the  story 
is  the  property  of  my  Government  alone!" 

"And  the  beautiful  lady,  Panchita?"  said  Colonel 
Ford,  as  he  seated  himself  at  table,  for  Mejia  and 
the  Texan  Nestor  were  "  compadres,"  to  use  the  friendly 
social  term. 

"  Ah!  mi  amigo!  Exactly!  That  is  also  a  part  of  my 
adjutant's  mission.  He  leaves  at  once.  This  scoundrel 
Maxan  '  el  Jaguar'  has  been  carrying  on  many  schemes 
from  here.  Caballo  Blanco,  who  fell  under  your 
friend's  rifle,  lurked  safely  here  at  need.  Now,  to 
deceive  the  poor  girl  upstairs,  Maxan  pretended  to 
have  Antonio  marry  them  I  Unknown  to  him^  it  was 
legal,  for,  though  the  church  property  is  secularized 
and  sequestered,  Padre  Antonio  has  his  certificate  from 
the  Bishop  of  Monterey.  It  rests  with  the  President 
to  determine  her  rights.  If  she  is  a  Texan,  it  may  be 
for  Senor  Romero  and  your  minister  to  adjust.  If  she 


FOR   LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


345 


is  a  Mexican  borri,  the  President  will  decide.  She  will 
be  rich,  for  she  is  Maxau's  lawful  wife!" 

Mejia  rose,  for  the  bugles  were  sounding. 

"  I  must  see  Nordenskiold  about  this,"  mused  old 
Colonel  Ford,  with  memories  of  a  sweet-faced  woman 
once  at  Laredo.  Panchita's  mother's  sad  story  returned 
to  his  mind.  The  old  ranger  walked  slowly  away. 

"  I'll  try  and  make  that  sleeping  beauty  upstairs  a 
lawful  widow"  thought  gallant  Buller,  as  he  lit  a 
cigar.  "  She  is  handsome  enough  for  that  interesting 
station,  and  I  don't  care  to  have  her  practice  long  as  a 
Florence  Nightingale  over  my  young  friend  Jim!  A 
man  would  have  to  be  pretty  dead  to  stand  those  eyes!" 

"  A  nice  place  for  a  young  soldier  to  acquire  the 
habit  of  military  coolness  and  gain  experience.  Mejia's 
adjutant,  a  midnight  hangman!"  mused  Jack.  "A 
morning  ride  to  the  City  of  Mexico — a  hundred  leagues! 
It  beats  the  Sioux  warpath.  I  am  afraid  I  would  not 
like  Mejia's  way ! " 


BOOK  V. 

THE  LAST  THROW  OF    THE  DICE — LOVE  WINS! 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

KATIE'S    STORY — MAXAN'S   REVENGE — BOB    KENYON 

SEES  THE  LIGHT  AT  LAST AN  UPHEAVAL THE 

COMPANY'S  DOWNFALL — NO.  4  DRAWS  OUT — THE 

RAILROAD  BUILDERS BLACK  CLOUDS  OF  TROUBLE 

THE  JAGUAR  IN  HIDING. 

"  GENTLEMEN,  one  word,"  said  Buller,as  his  orderly 
reported  the  command  ready.  Manson  and  Bayard 
walked  aside  with  the  hardy  lieutenant.  Colonel  Mejia 
was  curiously  watching  Buller's  men,  already  filing 
down  the  road. 

"  I  have  helped  you  in  your  quest  for  Life  and  Love! 
Now,  I  shall  not  say  good-bye  to  that  simply  stunning 
widow  l  in  posse]  and  I  dare  not  rouse  Leavenworth ! 
I  will  leave  it  to  you^  Manson,  to  make  my  adieu  to 
Miss  Katie.  I  shall  recross  the  river  and  meet  Mejia 
officially  as  soon  as  I  can  get  my  fellows  in  Uncle  Sam's 
dingy  blue  once  more.  So,  farewell!  Good  luck,  and 
don't  forget  the  Fourth  Cavalry  if  a  hungry  trooper 
ever  passes  your  home!" 

"  By  God !  I'll  give  the  whole  regiment  the  freedom 
of  my  ranch,"  began  the  ex-rebel,  but  laughing  Buller 
waved  his  hand  as  his  nervous  roan  dashed  through  the 
portal. 

"  These  fellows  look  like  your  regular  soldiers," 
s.iid  Colonel  Mejia,  approaching. 


FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE.  347 

"  They  are  a  lot  of  ex-army  men  picked  up  by  us 
all,"  said  Bayard.  His  white  lie  was  pardonable. 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,"  said  the  Commandante,  with 
a  queer  smile.  "  I  should  not  otherwise  have  been  able 
to  report  officially  that  you  came  and  asked  my  aid  as 
citizens  merely.  The  lieutenant  tells  me  that  he  left 
his  command  at  Las  Cuevas." 

"  So  he  did,  Colonel,"  said  Manson,  with  alow  bow. 
"  Their  clothes,  I  mean"  he  mentally  added. 

The  official  fiction  was  understood  tacitly  by  the 
three. 

"I  would  suggest  an  immediate  move  nowtoRinggold 
Barracks,"  cautiously  said  Mejia.  "  Miss  Leavenworth 
would  only  excite  her  brother.  I  wish  her  out  of  the 
reach  of  this  mad  outlaw.  I  will  send  a  troop  down 
with  you  at  noon.  Colonel  Ford  will  draw  off  all  your 
men.  As  for  the  lady,  my  adjutant  has  arranged  the 
team  and  a  good  ambulance  here.  I  will  have  Senora 
Panchita  send  a  couple  of  the  least  idiotic  of  these 
women  along.  They  will  fall  into  a  new  existence  at 
some  of  our  river  camps.  In  other  words,  gentlemen, 
if  I  must  say  it  politely,  I  do  not  'wish  to  see  yozi  here 
after  noon^  for  my  official  report  will  be  dated  then. 
I  will  take  leave  of  the  lady.  In  fact,  ride  a  mile  with 
you.  Ah!  Excuse  me,  my  adjutant  is  ready  to 
depart!  I  shall  have  to  name  a  new  orderly  officer." 

The  little  Aztec  spit-fire  vanished. 

"Jack,"  said  Bayard,  "you  are  not  a  military  man! 
You  may  be!  Let  me  give  you  a  piece  of  advice. 
That  poor  devil  of  an  adjutant  has  had  no  sleep,  but  has 
been  playing  wheelwright  and  wagonmaster,  and  now 
starts  off  for  the  City  of  Mexico!  I'll  bet  that  he  has 
had  no  breakfast.  Never  be  an  adjutant!" 

"Certainly  not  Commandante  Mejia's!"  laughed 
Manson.  "I  think  that  poor  chap  lives  on  gold  lace 
and  cigarettes,  and  sleeps  in  the  saddle." 


34^  £OR    Ht'E.    AXD    LOVE. 

"Let's  go  up  and  prepare  Miss  Katie  for  departure," 
said  Bayard.  "I  know  these  sly  Mexican  devils!  Mejia 
has  unearthed  something!  He  wants  us  all  away.  I 
will  wager  he  and  Padre  Antonio  will  dig  up  a  cord  of 
the  Bishop's  Mexican  dollars  and  divide  it  'on  the  quiet!' 
Antonio  may  know  where  Maxan  has  buried  his  loot!" 

Preceded  by  Ford,  whose  role  of  Brevet  Father 
well  became  his  silvering  crown  and  venerable  appear- 
ance, the  two  young  men  exchanged  a  few  words  with 
the  Beauty  of  San  Miguel.  Fair  Katie  had  evidently 
already  had  a  favorable  report  from  the  volunteer  sur- 
geon, for  her  eyes  sparkled  as  her  pretty  head  peeped 
out  from  the  leather  curtains,  with  just  a  glimpse  of  a 
silver  shoulder. 

"  I  will  be  ready.  God  bhses  you  all  for  your 
bravery!" 

"  We  will  all  meet  to  say  '  good-morning '  to  our 
wounded  captain,  then  off  for  home!  The  doctor  will 
notify  you  when  he  wakes." 

Three  hours  later  Colonel  Mejia  stood  by  Leaven- 
worth's  bed,  the  centre  of  an  affectionate  circle.  "  I 
will  see  your  friends  through  my  lines.  One  troop  is 
already  gone  to  Las  Cuevas.  Another  escorts  your 
sister  and  her  friends.  I  shall  leave  one  here  in  garrison 
with  Captain  Cristobal  in  charge,  for  to-morrow  I  go 
to  Matamoras  with  the  Fourth.  I  shall  see  you 
to-night.  You  may  listen  to  your  sister  ten  minutes, 
speak  to  her  but  twenty  words,  then  'Vamonos!'  Home- 
ward bound!" 

Jimmy  smiled  faintly.  Senora  Panchita,  a  picture  of 
dark  loveliness,  brought  Katie  forth,  as  the  cortege 
waited.  The  weeping  girl  pi'essed  the  Mexican  beauty 
to  her  heaving  bosom  and  cried,  "My  home  is  yours  I 
Remember  your  promise!" 

Colonel  Ford,  in  stately  dignity,  occupied  the  ambu- 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  3  JO, 

lance  with  the  rescued  Katie,  and  Bayard,  Jack  Manson, 
and  the  lynx-eyed  Mejia  were  a  knightly  escort. 

Passing  through  Zacate,  the  Texans  riding  at  ease, 
the  fluttering  banderas  of  the  Mexican  Lancers  gave 
Katie's  flitting  the  air  of  a  mediaeval  princess'  journey. 

When  the  last  gaping  villagers  were  left  behind, 
Colonel  Mejia,  with  florid  courtesy,  took  leave  of  the 
heiress  of  San  Miguel.  "  Rest  at  home  in  peace, 
Senorita,"  he  said  reassuringly.  "  Our  military  tele- 
graph announces  Ramon  Maxan  as  a  declared  felon  and 
outlaw!  If  your  people  use  ordinary  prudence  at  the 
ranch,  there  will  be  no  further  danger.  This  fellow 
will  either  clear  out  to  Europe  or  join  the  renegades 
and  hostile  Indians.  I  will  see  that  he  never  sets  foot 
in  his  old  haunt  again.  I  will  answer  for  your  brother's 
return  with  my  life! 

"  Gentlemen,  you  are  brave  cavaliers.  I  salute  you. 
You  are  all  my  brothers." 

With  a  flourish  of  his  gold-banded  cap,  little  Mejia 
was  gone.  He  was  followed  by  a  fortunate  neophyte, 
who  had  drawn  the  temporary  prize  of  adjutant.  As 
Jack  Manson  admired  the  exquisite  horsemanship  of  the 
wily  officer,  he  turned  to  Bayard.  "  Tom,  I  believe 
you  are  right!  Mejia  and  Padre  Antonio  wish  to  secure 
the  robber's  hoard.  This  slyboots  dashes  back  to  see 
that  Antonio  does  not  secrete  it  all.  I  wonder  if  he  has 
set  the  handsome  Mexicana  on  to  watch  in  his  absence? " 

Jack  was  partly  right  and  partly  wrong.  For  as 
Katie  Leavenworth,  at  the  halt  for  luncheon  and  refresh- 
ment, told  her  story  under  the  shade  of  a  great  oak,  by 
a  bubbling  spring,  Mejia  and  Antonio  were  gloating 
over  the  treasure  under  the  tiles;  but  Panchita,  seated 
by  the  sleeping  Texan's  coach,  kissed  his  brow  lightly 
and  whispered :  "  You  have  broken  the  chain  of  my 
bondage! "  For  the  true  character  of  Maxan's  followers 


550  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

was  now  revealed  and  his  bandit  schemes  exposed  "  I 
will  go  back,  back  to  Laredo,  where  I  heard  the  Angelus 
with  the  pure  heart  of  a  girl,  and  where  my  mother  lies 
within  the  old  convent  garden!" 

The  wayside  luncheon  was  a  joyous  one.  But  Katie 
Leavenworth's  eyes  were  wistful.  In  the  presence  of 
Colonel  Ford  and  her  sister's  lover,  the  sorrow-shaded 
girl  avoided  Jack  Hanson's  eager  eyes. 

Frank  and  open  among  her  bowers  at  home,  fearless 
and  trusting  on  the  ocean  wave,  Katie  felt  now,  in  the 
ardent  gaze  of  her  adoring  lover,  a  sense  of  asserted 
proprietorship^.  As  her  sapphire  eyes  dropped  before 
his  burning  gaze,  the  blood  surged  back  to  her  heart! 

"I  can  not  tell  him  all  yet!  Not  until  the  friendly 
roses  alone  listen." 

The  maiden's  first  heart-confidence  was  for  the 
mother  who  bore  her,  for  St.  Cecilia,  and  for  the  father 
hastening  home  in  ignorance  of  Maxan's  fell  swoop! 
It  was  only  after  this,  on  Jack  Manson's  breast  alone, 
she  could  reveal  all  the  dark  menace  of  her  captive 
hours. 

But  it  was  necessary  to  recount  her  movements.  Tom 
Bayard  frankly  asked  her  if  she  could  bear  the  strain  of 
a  recital. 

"  We  may  wish  to  make  some  dispositions  at  once  for 
the  devil's  punishment  for  your  future  protection.  We 
will  call  Colonel  Ford  and  you  can  then  briefly  tell  us 
what  you  can  remember  now.  If  we  wish  details  we 
will  question  you,  for  we  will  act  as  soon  as  we  reach 
Ringgold.  There  we  will  have  our  own  telegraph,  the 
troops,  and  news  of  McNally's  Rangers.  It  is  vital  to 
run  this  beast  to  bay  at  once!" 

With  great  delicacy  the  old  ranger  had  withdrawn  to 
leave  the  young  people  alone 

"  I  am  of  another  day.     The  heart  will  bind  them  all 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  351 

closely  together.  My  life's  battle  is  nearly  over.  But 
the  Zona  Libre!  Shall  I  ever  see  it  under  the  Stars  and 
Stripes?" 

The  scarred  veteran  watched  the  rings  of  blue  smoke 
rise  from  his  Tepic  cigar  and  vanish  in  the  clearest  air 
on  earth.  A  stone's  throw  away  the  streamlet  flashed 
in  the  rocky  canon,  the  narrow,  winding  gorge  behind 
them  opening  fan-like  in  its  descent  to  the  varied,  rolling 
plains  below.  The  hills,  rising  two  thousand  feet  in  air 
behind,  through  their  open  notches  showed  the  dim 
summits  of  the  blue  Monterey  peaks.  Behind,  tinkling 
herd-bell  echoes  and  the  song  of  birds  swept  down  from 
the  dreaming  village  of  Zacate,  where  in  low,  one-story 
stone  huts  or  thatched  jacales,  the  frightened  peons 
cowered  out  of  sight  of  "  los  soldados,"  as  well  as  the 
fierce  Texans.  Their  own  green-coated  "defenders" 
were  ruthless  foragers  and  laid  heavy  hand  on  man  and 
maid. 

In  delightful  varying  beauty  of  woodland,  "  mesa,'' 
"  alameda,"  and  "  potrero  "below  them,  lay  the  rich  fields 
of  Nueva  Leon,  stretching  far  to  the  dark-green  wind- 
ing line,  marking  the  Rio  Grande.  Beyond  it  the  shim- 
mering mirage  rose  from  the  sweltering,  dry  sands  of 
that  arid  zone,  really  the  border. 

"  Great  Scott!  "  said  Ford,  "  our  people  should  have 
left  that  strip  from  Ei  Paso  to  Point  Isabel  for  a  coyote 
pasture  to  amuse  these  '  greasers,'  or  else,  grabbed  Coa- 
hiula,  Nueva  Leon,  and  Tamaulipas.  We  will  have  it 
yet,  but  I  will  be  in  my  silent  grave  before  the  Stars  and 
Stripes  wave  here."  His  aged  eye  noted  the  beautiful 
hacienda  enclosures  below,  the  fertile  fields,  the  delight- 
ful forests,  and  scattered  villages.  It  was  a  tranquil 
landscape  of  exquisite  beauty.  Turning  his  eye  to 
the  distant  mountains,  their  silver  caverns  buttressing 
the  fabulously  rich  "  Bolson  de  Mapimi,"  Colonel  Ford 


352  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

rejoined  his  friends.  "  It's  a  clear  shame,"  he  said,  as  he 
answered  Tom  Bayard's  hail,  "  old  General  Taylor  only 
did  half  his  work.  He  should  have  fortified  a  line  and 
kept  the  border  as  far  as  Buena  Vista.  I  remember  that 
day  well."  The  old  veteran's  wounds  of  the  glorious- 
victory  twitched,  as  he  recalled  the  lance-thrusts  received 
on  his  first  great  battle-field. 

"  Tell  us  exactly  what  happened,  Katie,"  said  Bayard, 
with  a  brother-in-law-like  fondness.  "  Not  your  feel- 
ings, but  we  want  Ford  to  judge  of  the  scheme.  There 
may  be  traitors  still  at  the  ranch." 

With  a  glance  at  Manson,  Katie  began:  "  It  is  really 
very  simple.  I  never  was  timid  in  walking  or  riding 
around  the  ranch,  though  mother  always  begged  me  to 
tal^e  escort.  I  wanted  to  be  alone"  (here  a  little  peep 
at  Jack).  "  I  walked  out  of  our  garden,  by  a  break  in 
the  hedge,  toward  the  point  where  Jimmy  waited  for 
you,  you  know,"  she  said,  flashing  a  glance  at  Jack. 
It  was  the  parting  spot  where  the  lovers  had  sealed 
their  tryst  for  life  and  love!  "I  was  absent-minded — 
father's  voyage,  your  journey,  Alice's  preparations  for 
her  leaving"  (here  Tom  Bayard  blushed  as  all  eyes 
were  turned  on  him),  "and,  as  mother  and  Alice  were 
busied  conferring  about  some  matters,  I  wandered  along 
alone.  It  was  about  ten  in  the  morning.  I  forgot  that  I 
was  mounted  when  I  went  out  to  say  good-bye  to  you 
and  Jimmy  "  (here  Jack  Manson's  cheeks  flamed 
guiltily),  "  and  I  was  really  tired  before  I  was  half-way 
to  the  point  of  timber. 

"  I  sat  down  on  a  log  to  rest  for  a  few  moments, 
thinking  and  wondering  where  you  were  on  your 
way !  Suddenly  a  Navajo  blanket  was  thrown  over  my 
head.  My  wrists  were  seized.  I  was  borne  bodily  by 
four  men  to  a  little  opening  in  rear  of  the  edge  of  the 
trees.  I  could  not  scream.  I  was  almost  stifled,  and 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  3^3 

when  I  struggled  to  my  feet  two  stout  Mexican  women 
pushed  me  into  an  ambulance.  The  men  aided  in  no 
easy  way.  Four  wild  horses  were  in  the  team,  and  the 
driver  started  away  at  a  mad  run!  The  curtains  of  can- 
vas were  dropped,  and  while  the  rough  women  tied 
my  hands  and  arms  with  their  head  handkerchiefs,  they 
simply  laughed  at  my  stupid  screaming.  It  was  all  we 
could  do  to  keep  from  being  thrown  out  of  the  team. 
We  were  flying  over  hillocks  and  the  rough  holes  they 
call  *  hog  wallows'  down  here.  I  could  only  get  a 
glimpse  of  a  half-dozen  fearful-looking  armed  Mexi- 
cans on  horseback.  Worn  out  with  exhaustion  and 
struggling,  for  they  had  to  bind  my  knees  and  ankles 
with  a  horse-hair  lariat,  I  fainted  away!" 

Jack  Manson  ground  his  teeth  at  this  recital  and 
his  hand  clasped  his  revolver.  The  Recording  Angel 
made  a  quick  entry  in  his  book ! 

"  The  cool  of  evening  was  around  when  I  recovered 
my  senses.  I  was  drenched  with  water  over  my 
shoulders,  and  I  was  half-choked  with  fiery  brandy 
which  filled  my  mouth.  I  opened  my  eyes  and  Ramon 
Maxan  stood  before  me.  I  was  still  on  the  Texan 
side  of  the  Rio  Grande.  There  were  Louses." 

"Describe  them,"  said  Colonel  Ford,  his  eyes  glisten- 
ing with  rage.  The  girl  began  her  pictured  recital. 

"That's  enough!  Las  Cuevas!  \vejixed  that  ranch 
forever.  Go  on!"  he  said  kindly,  as  the  girl  gave  a 
few  further  sketches  of  the  place ! 

"'  I  will  now  take  you  over  where  you  will  be  more 
comfortable,'  Maxan  said,"  continued  Katie,  her  eyes 
flashing.  "  Spite  of  my  protest  and  appeals,  he  forced 
me  in  a  boat.  The  ambulance  was  crossed  over  in  a  flat; 
about  thirty  to  fifty  men  helped." 

"They  are  nearly  all  now  in  their  graves,  or  lying 
dead  in  the  canon!"  cried  Bayard  sternly. 


354 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


Katie  shuddered  and  continued:  "  In  the  dark,  I  was 
ariven  along  by  fresh  horses.  Maxan  and  the  t\vo 
women  were  in  the  wagon.  When  we  arrived  where 
you  found  me,  I  was  speechless  with  fatigue  and  railing 
at  that  devil,  who  simply  leered  and  grinned  at  my 
appeals  and  threats.  I  was  carried  up  into  the  room, 
and  the  two  stout  mestizo  women  laid  me  on  a  couch 
and  offered  refreshments  as  I  lay  helpless,  but  unbound. 
I  simply  motioned  in  disgust.  The  hags  sat  down, 
cross-legged,  on  the  floor  at  my  side.  They  paid  no 
attention  to  my  raving  when  I  could  talk.  I  knew  that 
present  escape  was  out  of  the  question.  I  looked  for 
something  to  kill  myself  with!  The  cowardly  kid- 
napper did  not  come  near  me.  I  heard  loud  voices  in 
quarrel  in  the  next  room — a  man's  oaths.  'Twas  Maxan ! 
A  woman's  sobs  and  pleadings,  I  know  not  whose !  I 
knew  I  was  in  some  robber -den,  where  I  knew  not^ 
for  I  was  rapidly  driven  in  the  dark,  and  counted  not 
the  hours.  But  alone  in  Mexico,  in  the  power  of  that 
snake,  I  thought  of  my  home,  of  my  absent  father,  of 
mother  and  Alice,  of  Jimmy's  heart-sorrow,  and — and, 
I  broke  down." 

Jack  Manson's  steadfast  eyes  read  a  tender,  unspoken 
message  from  the  rescued  girl. 

"  I  finally  sobbed  myself  to  sleep.  I  was  awakened  by 
a  hand  clutching  my  throat.  I  could  not  speak.  But  my 
eyes  fell  on  the  handsomest  woman  I  have  ever  seen — 
Panchita !  A  dim  lamp  burned  on  a  distant  table.  In 
her  long  white  robe,  she  looked  ghostly.  Her  left 
hand  grasped  my  throat,  her  right  held  a  fearful  knife! 
'You  shall  not  live!'  she  hissed.  'I  "will  have  no 
Gringo  mistress  here!'  The  maddened  woman  pressed 
the  blade  of  the  knife  against  my  bosom.  I  screamed 
then  in  affright,  and  I  saw,  as  I  lost  consciousness,  only 
the  two  drowsy  women  grappling  the  midnight  visitor, 


FOR   LIFE   AND   LOVE- 


355 


and  Maxan,  followed  by  Antonio,  rush  into  the  room, 
then  all  was  dark ! " 

The  three  listeners  held  their  breath  in  excitement. 

"  When  I  awoke  the  next  day,  I  was  so  weak  I  could 
not  move.  I  opened  my  eyes  as  a  pair  of  soft,  white 
arms  caressed  me.  It  was  the  wild  woman  of  the  night 
before.  She  was  weeping  and  her  fond  kisses  warmed 
my  hands.  Of  course  you  all  know  I  can  even  think 
in  Spanish.  When  I  had  taken  some  of  the  varied 
nourishments  forced  on  me  by  the  passionate  would-be 
assassin  of  night,  now  the  very  gentlest  nurse,  I  learned 
that  Maxan  was  busied  with  his  followers.  Grown 
doubtful  of  the  'whole  world,  I  listened  to  the  strange 
woman's  story.  For  while  I  lay  in  unconsciousness, 
Ramon  Maxan,  to  still  Panchita's  rage,  had  been  mar- 
ried to  this  woman  by  the  old  man,  who  seems  to  be  a 
priest  in  hiding  from  the  popular  Mexican  clamor 
against  the  clericals." 

"  What  is  the  cause  of  this  rage  against  the  church?  " 
said  Jack  Manson,  as  Katie  paused.  Her  memories 
were  exciting  and  exhausting! 

"  The  Catholic  padres  aided  Maximilian,  as  a  rule," 
said  Ford. 

"  Now  you  know  nearly  all,  gentlemen,"  said  Katie, 
with  a  faint  blush.  "  I  learned  much  of  the  Mexican 
girl's  history,  and  I  can  only  tell  it  to  my  mother;  but 
I  will  tell  you  that  she  had  been  two  years  at  the 
hacienda.  Maxan  has  explained  all  peculiar  occur- 
rences on  the  ground  of  revolution  and  troublous 
times.  Her  frantic  jealousy  was  awakened  by  my 
arrival.  In  his  need  of  freedom  to  fortify  his  place, 
watch  the  river,  and  organize  his  men,  he  had  no  time  to 
approach  me.  He  hit  on  the  temporary  expedient  of 
this  marriage  to  reassure  her,  and  to  blind  her,  he  told 
her  I  was  carried  off  for  a  ransom  by  his  friend, 


35  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Caballo  Blanco,  and  that  he  wished  to  guard  me  secretly, 
and,  dividing  the  ransom  with  pretended  robbers,  make 
friends  with  my  father  by  pretending  to  return  me.  I 
kept  my  own  counsel,  for  I  dared  not  trust  her  varying 
moods.  She  never  left  me  until  three  days  later  your 
attack  ended  all.  I  think  his  design  was  simply  venge- 
ance and  his  mad  passion! 

"His  arrangements  made,  I  think  he  intended  to  carry 
me  away  into  the  interior.  Perhaps  to  get  rid  of  that 
poor  woman  by  secret  murder.  The  great  ranch  is  his 
own,  she  tells  me,  and  I  think  it  is  too  near  Matamoras 
for  him  to  play  the  open  bandit.  That  is  all  I  can  say 
now.  If  you  wish  to  ask  me  I  will  try  and  tell,"  she  said. 
"  It  is  a  horrid  dream !  All  that  fighting,  the  noise, 
the  blood!" 

The  frightened  girl  covered  her  eyes  with  her  hand, 
the  tears  streamed  through  her  nerveless  fingers. 

"  Lady  Bird,"  said  Colonel  Ford,  "  don't  worry  all 
our  hearts!  Be  as  cool  as  you  have  been  brave! " 

The  team  was  waiting,  and  at  a  nod  from 
Bayard,  the  tired  heiress  re-entered  her  carriage.  With 
pillows  and  cushions  piled  around  her,  she  rested  in 
uneasy  slumber,  the  roses  faded  from  her  pale  cheeks. 

Jack  Manson  gazed  like  a  wolf-hound  on  the  chase, 
at  the  distant  Rio  Grande  banks,  as  the  train  pushed 
smartly  on.  He  swore  a  silent  oath  which  convulsed 
his  very  being.  Falling  back  a  few  moments  with 
Bayard,  he  listened  to  Ford's  cautious  comments. 

"  There  would  have  been  fearful  work  if  we  had  not 
reached  the  place  before  he  was  fortified  and  had 
thrown  out  pickets  all  round  his  place.  That  devil 
would  have  killed  both  these  women  to  cover  his  tracks, 
cut  old  Antonio's  throat,  and,  burying  his  heaviest 
treasure,  or  starting  it  on  in  teams,  would  have  got  away 
to  Tampico  and  Cuba!  We  never  would  have  solved  the 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  357 

mystery.  But,  who  aided  him  at  San  Miguel?  The  neat- 
est jobs  of  this  kind  are  the  simplest.  I  have  always 
noted  the  common-sense  plainness  of  the  most  success- 
ful Indian  strategy!  Educated  whites  put  too  much 
machinery  in  their  plans  of  crime.  They  always  try  to 
stop  off  a  thousand  possible  clues.  But  in  this  plot,  there 
was  information  conveyed.  Ximenes,  of  course,  made 
Maxan  acquainted  with  the  whole  surroundings  of  the 
place;  but  the  time,  the  knowledge  of  her  father's  ab- 
sence, the  dogging  her  steps!  Who  are  the  traitors 
at  the  ranch? "  Ford  mused. 

"  Whenever  you  have  a  Mexican  or  a  half-breed 
around,  you  are  in  constant  danger,"  finally  remarked 
Bayard.  "  I  don't  care  where  the  men  came  from  around 
my  ranch,  or  what  drove  them  to  Texas,  as  long  as 
they  are  'white  men.  No  fancy  dark  strains  for  me!" 

"Why,  look  here,  gentlemen!"  said  Jack  Manson. 
"Katie  told  me  that  wounded  boy  had  cleared  out  when 
we  did." 

"Ah!  There  was  the  weak  spot!  News  was  sent 
to  this  devil  that  we  were  all  away.  So  he  sneaked 
over  on  general  principles,"  cried  Ford,  "  and  took  a 
quick  advantage  of  the  peculiar  situation.  We  two  at 
Brownsville,  you  up  the  river,  Silas  at  New  Orleans, 
and  the  ranch  people  following  their  daily  work,  it  was 
the  devil  looking  out  for  his  chicken!  That's  all.  This 
fellow  had  both  education  and  social  experience  enough 
to  know  that  the  employes  would  be  unusually  delicate 
in  intruding  on  the  family  while  the  men  were  away. 
All  these  unexplained  happenings,  when  responsible 
people  are  away,  come  from  a  quick  advantage  taken  of 
happy  or  unhappy  chances.  I  would  not  care  to  be 
around  Si  Leavenworth  when  he  gives  the  ranch  super- 
intendent his  opinion  of  him.  By  heavens!  he  is  capable 
of  flaying  a  man  alive.  Well,  thank  God,  he  knows, 


358  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

they  all  know,  she  is  safe  now!  If  the  wires  are  not 
down,  the  courier  Mejia  sent  last  night  had  the  dispatch 
at  Corpus  before  four  this  morning.  An  express  rider 
could  do  the  trip  to  the  ranch  in  three  hours.  But  we 
must  sweep  every  one  off  the  border  now.  Clean  it  up 
for  once  and  all!" 

Ford  was  wolfish. 

"I  never  was  particular  about 'drawing'  on  a  doubtful 
Mexican,  but  I  will  lose  what  scruples  I  ever  had," 
dryly  remarked  Bayard — "  that  is  if  Si  Leavenworth's 
hangings  leave  anybody  to  practice  shooting  on!  He 
will  be  like  a  madman  in  his  suspense.  Why,  he  rounded 
up  seventeen  men  skinning  his  cattle  two  years  ago! 
The  Grand  Jury  found  that  the  '  Regulators '  hung 
them,  but  I  happen  to  know  the  '  riatas '  used  were  San 
Miguel  raw-hide  lasso  ropes.  Ah,  yes,  he  is  a  terrible 
man!  "  Tom  Bayard  sighed. 

"  Do  you  not  think,  Colonel,  it  would  help  to  pacify 
this  region,  if  Silas  were  to  turn  over  the  ranch  now  to 
his  son's  handling  ?  "  queried  Manson,  as  they  rode  down 
on  the  level  plain.  Ford  was  at  the  head  of  the 
column,  soldier-like  in  caution. 

"Jack,  we  will  take  these  sweet  girls  away  from  him," 
Said  the  ex-rebel  confidentially.  "  When  our  marriages 
give  us  a  right  to  talk,  I  shall  ask  you  "to  help  me  show 
to  old  Silas  that  his  chance  of  dying  in  his  bed 
depends  on  abdication  !  He  does  not  care  for  money ;  it 
is  only  the  pride  and  habit  of  control.  It  is  the  very  wine 
of  life  to  him.  But  that  darling  girl  in  the  ambulance 
can  talk  him  into  tenderness.  Jimmy  will  be  all  right 
in  a  month,  and  I  shall  force  my  wedding  day  on  rapidly ! 
I  leave  you  to  direct  your  own  action !  I  will  tell  you  that 
you  had  better  break  the  news  of  your  demand  for  Katie, 
while  he  feels  he  owes  her  life  to  you!  We  waive  our 
glory  in  your  favor.  Let's  push  on.  D — n  the  Rio 


FOR    LIFE    AND    I.OVE.  359 

Grande!  I  wish  I  could  cut  it' out  of  the  map  and 
dry  up  the  valley.  A  river-line  is  a  fatal  boundary. 
Here,  take  a  drop  of  Maxan's  best  to  an  early  double 
wedding!" 

Jack,  even  preoccupied  as  he  was,  laughed  heartily  as 
he  grasped  Bayard's  old  war  flask. 

"  We  can  keep  each  other's  secrets.  Colonel,  here's 
to  the  new  home  on  the  Nueces!" 

«  Where  can  that  renegade  be  ?  "  thought  Tom  Bay- 
ard. "  There  will  be  a  sharp  hunt  for  his  life.  Well, 
thank  God,  we  will  be  at  Ringgold  Barracks  in  two 
hours.  The  '  regulars '  are  not  the  greatest  warriors  in 
the  world,  but  people  do  not  steal  ladies  from  then- 
parade  ground.  It  is  a  keen  cut  to  the  pride  of  the 
wariest  old  ranchero  in  Texas  to  lose  his  pet  lamb  out 
of  the  fold  in  open  day!" 

Bayard  urged  the  column  on,  while  Katie,  in  the 
delicious  self-surrender  of  security,  slept  till  the  ambu- 
lance halted  at  the  muddy  international  ditch,  across 
which  the  pleasant  mansion  -  quarters  of  Ringgold 
clustered  around  a  tall  mast,  bearing  the  colors  of  sturdy 
old  Uncle  Sam.  The  reclaimed  Confederate  hailed  the 
once  unwelcome  sight  with  tears  of  joy!  What  thrills 
an  American  like  the  flag  of  his  country  floating  in 
God's  free  air! 

Colonel  Mejia,  as  night  fell,  furthering  his  secret  ends 
in  comfort,  free  from  prying  stranger  eyes,  pondered  at 
Hacienda  Maxan  over  the  whereabouts  of  the  vanished 
"Jaguar,"  now  veritably  a  hunted  beast.  From  his 
previous  knowledge  of  the  quasi  -  criminal,  Mejia 
thought  the  upper  Rio  Grande  around  the  Great  Bend 
would  be  his  lurking-place.  From  there  Maxan 
could  reach  No  Man's  Land  on  the  Texan  border, 
Sonora,  and  the  Pacific  Coast,  or,  disguising  himself,  get 
down  to  Tampico  or  Vera  Cruz  and  reach  any  one  of 


360  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE* 

a  hundred  islands  of  the  Cariboean,  or  make  his  way 
to  the  Mecca  of  cosmopolitan  rascals,  Central  America. 

The  doughty  little  Aztec  would  have  bounded  in 
rage  had  he  known  that  his  energetic  adjutant,  the 
bearer  of  every  sudden  extra  military  burden,  had  ridden 
in  ignorance,  past  the  very  camp  where  Ramon  Maxan 
lay,  perdu,  nursing  now  a  demoniac  thirst  for  vengeance! 

It  was  true.  Sixty  miles  from  where  Ramon  Max- 
an's  captured  stronghold  lay,  a  straggling  camp  of  Con- 
federate self -exiles  were  vainly  trying  to,  at  once,  raise 
coffee  and  solve  the  hopeless  problem  of  Communism ! 
Broken  and  embittered  soldiers,  haughty  planters  ruined 
by  the  war,  ex-officials  of  the  civil  service,  and  a  few 
Quixotic  adherents  of  the  "  last  ditch  "  frenzy,  were  aim- 
lessly talking,  planning,  and  toiling  in  a  foreign  land 
to  gain  a  living  free  from  the  overshadowing  of  their 
native  country's  victorious  banner.  A  few  clear-headed 
men  among  them  already  began  to  see  that  self-expa- 
triation is  not  profitable,  "  per  se ; "  that  the  former 
planters,  unused  to  personal  exertion,  were  powerless 
without  the  unpaid  labor  of  their  docile  negro  slaves, 
now  freed  by  a  sweep  of  dead  Abraham  Lincoln's 
pen!  Tender  women,  high-souled,  but  saddened,  men 
of  good  character,  and  sullen  wearied  youths  grow- 
ing up  without  education,  were  "  hostages  of  fortune  " 
in  this  disastrous  enterprise.  Sadly  as  the  Brazilian 
confederate  emigration  plans  failed,  this  fruitless 
scheme,  almost  in  sight  of  home,  was  heart-sickening. 
Each  day  was  a  round  of  vain  regrets,  of  wasted  hours. 
Dividing  into  little  knots,  they  clung  but  feebly  to  each 
other.  In  the  remote  cabins  of  their  straggling  settle- 
ment were  darkened  lives — men  given  over  to  sodden 
dissipation,  or  those  fearing  punishment  for  military 
misdeeds  or  yet  unforgotten  crimes  of  violence.  Each 
man,  was  a  laiv  to  himself,  and  while  tacitly  avoiding 


FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE.  361 

the  bad  element,  the  better  Southern  colonists  suffered 
their  presence,  for  the  dull-eyed,  zealous,  suspicious 
Mexican  natives  cordially  hated  the  whole  colony! 

In  any  attack,  even  these  black  sheep  might  fight 
vigorously.  Ramon  "el  Jaguar"  had  always  kept  up  a 
possible  line  of  retreat  in  coming  trouble.  Several  shady 
characters  in  the  camp  had  been  known  to  him  in  his 
youthful  exploits  in  the  bayous  of  Louisiana  during  the 
war.  Smugglers,  spies,  cotton  agents,  go-betweens,  and 
criminals,  cast  out  by  both  armies,  these  fellows  lived  in 
a  remote  corner  of  the  Confederate  village  spoken  of, 
under  the  breath,  as  Murderer's  Row. 

When  Maxan,  in  his  escape,  crawled  in  the  darkness 
from  the  low  roof  he  sprang  on,  dropping  on  all-fours 
into  his  garden,  he  slipped  along  to  a  little  paddock, 
where  three  or  four  blood-horses  were  separated  from 
the  vulgar  herd  on  the  potrero.  A  mozo,  always  sleep- 
ing in  a  hut  near,  was  cowering  in  fear  in  his  thatched 
shelter.  Indicating  a  huge  tree  in  the  near  forest, 
Maxan  bade  the  man  throw  a  saddle  on  the  nearest  horse 
and  bring  him  there.  Grasping  the  man's  machete  and 
serape,  he  picked  up  the  peon's  sombrero  and  darted 
into  the  forest  shade.  His  pistol  and  cartridge-belt 
were  with  him,  and  he  wore  a  money-belt  beneath  his 
jacket.  Bidding  the^  frightened  servant  steal  back,  and, 
with  a  halter,  follow  him  bare-back  on  another  horse, 
the  fearless  horseman  raced  along  in  the  shadow  of 
the  great  mountain-trees,  till  out  of  range,  he  waited 
his  man. 

"It's  a  good' idea  to  take  him.  He  can  not  betray 
me.  I  leave  no  trail,  and  if  he  demurs,  I'll  put  a  pistol- 
ball  into  him  and  leave  him  to  the  coyotes.  Now  for 
Santander!  I  can  hide  there  a  week." 

There  were  no  questions  asked  him  next  morning  as 
Maxan  rode  tip  to  the  door  where  "Alligator  Charley," 


362  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

an  old  companion,  lay  in  a  hammock,  under  the  shade, 
in  the  Southern  camp,  a  mescal  bottle  near,  and  a  low- 
browed mestizo  woman  ready  always  to  hand  him  a 
coal  for  his  cigar. 

"Hello,  Ramon!  You  here!  What's  up?  Trouble?" 
cried  Charley,  with  lazy  interest.  "Light  down!  Is 
your  man  to  be  trusted  ? " 

"  Yes,"  said  Ramon,  as  he  sprang  off  and  grasped 
Charley's  hand.  "  I've  had  a  devil  of  a  race." 

"Ah,  I  see!  Had  to  get  out  quick!  "said  Charley. 
"Are  you  bringing  any  one  down  on  the  camp?  " 

"Oh,  no!  "said  Maxan,  accepting  a  cup  of  mescal. 
"No  one  knows  the  road  I  travelled."  He  lay  down  in 
the  hammock. 

"  That's  right,"  said  Charley,  as  he  slouched  over  and 
directed  the  woman  to  get  some  meat  and  coffee  for  the 
visitor.  Maxan  signed  to  his  man  to  take  care  of  the 
horses. 

"  I  am  not  in  favor,  Ramon,  with  the  judges  and  col- 
onels in  *  Quality  Row,'"  sneered  Charley,  as  Maxan 
told  him  he  had  been  driven  away  temporarily,  from 
his  stronghold,  but  prudently  omitting  mention  of  Katie 
Leavenworth. 

"Well!  I  have  a  good  place  to  hide  you  here,  and 
I  know  you  always  have  money  and  a  nest-egg  some- 
where. You  are  a  devilish  sly  dog,  old  boy!  Now, 
you  want  to  get  square  with  the  whole  world,  you  say. 
I  will  show  you  a  cabin  here  where  I  laid  out  a  little 
den  for  myself.  You  can  be  made  comfortable  there. 
Your  man  can  get  one  of  these  Indian  women  to  cook 
for  you.  There's  a  sort  of  a  harmless  chap,  an  old 
friend  of  mine,  there.  He's  a  little  peculiar,  is  Bob 
Kenyon.  He  got  a  clip  on  the  head  from  a  shell  in  the 
war,  but  he's  good  company  when  his  spell  isn't  on 
him.  I'll  attend  to  all  your  confidential  things.  I've 


FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE.  363 

got  the  time.  I  could  go  to  Tampico  or  Mexico  for 
you,  back  to  the  Rio  Grande,  or  even  to  New  Orleans. 
I'll  stick  to  you." 

"You're  the  very  man,  Charley;  I  want  to  deal  a 
bloiu  to  some  dirty  sneaks  up  North,  and  I'll  tell  you 
later  where  I  have  a  few  Bank  of  England  notes  stored 
away." 

"  That's  the  talk,"  heartily  answered  the  disreputable 
Figaro.  "  I  fancy  you  don't  wish  these  grandees  of 
the  '  Lost  Cause'  here  to  know  much  about  you.  Will 
you  ride  over  to  the  cabin  with  me?  ' 

"I  had  better  not  be  seen  around  here  generally,"  said 
Maxan,  with  some  caution.  "  I  have  had  a  bit  of 
trouble  with  the  Mexican  authorities  over  some  smug- 
gling and  cattle-raiding  of  friends  whom  I've  given  shel- 
ter to!  But  I  must  lay  quiet  for  a  few  weeks.  Don't 
mention  me  at  all,  Charley." 

«  Oh,  if  it's  a  little  bit  of  the  '  contrabandista,'  that 
can  be  easily  squared,"  laughed  Charley.  "  You  can 
buy  the  whole  gang  of  Mexican  customs  officials  for 
five  hundred  cart-wheel  dollars." 

"  It's  that  and  more,  Charley !  I  must  get  even  with 
a  few  dirty  villains  North  and  South  who  have  tried  to 
throw  me  overboard  in  money  matters." 

"  I  will  bet  you  will  square  the  account,"  lazily 
grinned  Charley,  who  had  ordered  up  the  horses,  swal- 
lowed a  can  of  coffee,  refilled  his  flask,  and,  buckling 
on  a  loaded  army  revolver,  grasped  a  handful  of  planta- 
tion cigars,  which  his  poor  Mexican  drudge  was  twist- 
ing up  deftly. 

"  You  used  to  be  a  dandy !  I  am  afraid  you  left 
home  rather  suddenly,"  leered  Charley,  as  he  gazed  at 
Maxan's  uncouth  garb! 

The  Creole's  face  flushed!  The  vulgar  familiarity 
galled  him.  "  I  did  I  I  went  out  through  a  window 


364  FOR   LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

with  a  half-dozen  six-shooters  cracking  away  at  me!" 
His  face  blackened.  "  But,  by  God,  I'll  have  the 
hearfs  blood  of  the  two  curs  who  hounded  me!"  He 
checked  himself,  as  Charley,  who  scented  the  loose 
change  of  the  Bank  of  England  notes,  drifting  his 
way,  said  good-humoredly : 

"  Well,  you  can  act  from  here  and  think  things  all 
oyer!  I  can  get  you  any  rig  you  want  from  a 
Comanche  Indian's  to  the  uniform  of  a  Major-General 
in  the  Confederate  States  Army. 

"  D — n  the  Confederate  States  and  their  army!"  said 
Maxan  decisively,  as  he  sprang  on  his  horse. 

"  Easy,"  said  Alligator  Charley,  "you  must  curb  that 
temper  of  yours  a  little  down  here.  These  chaps  are  as 
proud  as  they  are  poor.  Bob  Kenyon,  who  will  be  your 
messmate,  is  a  crank  on  that  subject  and  about  his  beauti- 
ful wife  who  vanished  or  was  swept  away  in  the  war. 
It's  the  only  thing  he  raves  about!  He's  a  thorough 
gentleman  outside  of  that.  Now,  keep  cool.  Study  his 
little  peculiarities.  He's  as  brave  as  a  lion,  watchful 
and  true,  and  will  be  a  guard  for  you,  as  he  sleeps  little. 
No  one  approaches  him  for  he  often  gets  excited  about 
the  missing  beauty  he  lost.  So  it's  a  godsend  to  a  retired 
gentleman  like  you.  You  can  tell  me  what  you  want. 
I'll  get  it.  I  have  arms  enough  for  a  dozen.  I  am  only 
short  of  ready  money." 

They  rode  in  silence  along  the  shores  of  a  lagoon  to 
a  cabin,  sheltered  by  three  great  mahogany  trees.  A 
lazy  Mexican  boy  was  fishing  from  a  log,  and  a  few 
ponies  grazed  around.  Whooping  loudly,  Charley  dis- 
mounted, as  a  finely-built  man  of  thirty-five  appeared  in 
the  door.  His  clean-cut  face  showed  thought  and 
refinement,  though  a  furtive  wandering  of  his  gray  eye 
indicated  mental  suffering.  His  semi-military  garb 
conformed  to  the  mixture  of  Confederate  and  Mexican 
riding-attire,  generally  worn  by  the  political  emigrants. 


FOR   LIFE    AND    LOVE.  365 

"Major,  I've  brought  you  here  my  friend  Mr.  Preston, 
who  is  looking  around  for  a  coffee  and  sugar  plantation 
place."  Maxan  greeted  the  lonely  man  who  was  courtesy 
itself  in  his  welcome. 

"  It's  a  poor  place,  sir,  but  I'm  glad  to  see  you,"  said 
Kenyon  in  a  gentle,  abstracted  way.  Alligator  Charley 
was  anxious  to  settle  Maxan's  status.  Having  rebaptized 
the  Creole,  he  remarked:  "  Mr.  Preston  and  I  are  old 
Louisiana  friends.  He  does  not  wish  to  be  talked  to 
death  by  schemers,  and  I  am  going  to  post  him,  in  the 
two  or  three  weeks  he  will  be  here." 

"I  am  glad  of  your  company,  sir,"  said  Kenyon, 
with  true  Southern  hospitality,  calling  the  boy. 

In  a  half-hour,  around  a  table  spread  with  a  trop- 
ical breakfast  of  fish  and  fruits,  with  good  coffee, 
and  Charley's  flask,  the  three  were  soon  in  thorough 
accord. 

"I  will  now  leave  you,  Preston,"  said  Charley,  with  a 
wink.  "Ill  send  your  things  up  from  Santander,  in  an 
ox-cart  to-morrow,  and  let  me  know  what  else  I  can 
do  for  you." 

"Thank  you!"  said  the  newly-baptized  Preston.  He 
admired  Charley's  ready  wit.  "I did  have  a  rough  ride 
up  from  Tampico,  and  I  lost  my  way  once  or  twice.  I 
should  have  brought  a  guide  instead  of  trusting  to  my 
own  man.  He's  a  fool, but  honest!" 

Before  a  week  had  elapsed,  Maxan,  in  the  silence  of 
his  hammock,  dreaming  and  plotting,  had  evolved 
the  scheme  of  a  comprehensive  revenge.  His  com- 
panion was  exactly  suited  to  his  mood.  Kenyon  was 
reserved  and  silent.  Riding  alone  in  the  forest,  read- 
ing over  old  letters  and  papers,  smoking  and  idling  in 
his  hammock,  he  was  one  of  the  wrecks  of  the  "Lost 
Cause!"  When  the  Stars  and  Bars  went  down  in 
battle  and  storm,  the  chapter  of  life  was  closed  for 


366  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

him.  Reticent  and  watchful,  he  never  alluded  to  his 
private  sorrows.  Maxan  and  he  got  on  famously,  and 
Alligator  Charley  had  already  provided  the  hiding 
Jaguar  with  writing  materials,  and  enlightened  him  as  to 
the  telegraph,  mail,  and  public  facilities  of  Santander. 
At  night,  while  the  fire-flies  lit  up  the  Mexican  forest, 
the  two  lonely  men  talked  idly  of  old  times  and  scenes. 
They  were  contrasts  in  nature.  Maxan's  busy  mind 
distilled  only  the  poison  of  venomous  intrigue.  Robert 
Kenyon,  bearing  a  life's  disappointment,  and  nursing  his 
private  sorrows,  dreamed  along—"  the  world  forgetting, 
by  the  world  forgot." 

Subsistence  was  to  be  had  almost  gratis,  and  Maxan  was 
a  generous  provider,  for  of  his  Bank  of  England  notes, 
a  few  crisp  examples  were  sev^ed  in  his  belt — one  of 
them  marked  £100 — sufficed  to  make  him  a  local  cap- 
italist. Magic  power  of  money!  Its  concrete  force 
opens  almost  every  door  in  life. 

Ramon  "  el  Jaguar  "  chuckled ;  "  Let  them  now  ransack 
the  old  Casa  Maxan!  My  deposit  at  the  Bank  of  Havana 
and  Credit  Lyonnais  of  the  last  year's  dividends  on  the 
Rio  Grande  Company  are  a  start  for  life!  I  could 
even  take  the  chances  for  a  couple  of  years  on  the 
diamonds  and  notes  I  have  sewed  in  my  waist-band." 

He  mused  under  the  great  mahogany  trees,  and 
resolved  on  action.  "  It  is  folly  for  me  to  risk  braving 
these  fellows  openly  on  the  Rio  Grande.  I  can  not  hope 
ever  to  face  Mejia  and  these  border  officials.  I  can 
blackmail  old  Steele  and  Milly  out  of  any  money  I 
want  later.  He  is  re-elected  for  six  years.  President 
Grant  must  sustain  him  as  a  party  leader,  and  he  has  lands 
and  a  big  share  of  this  railroad.  Shall  I  clear  out  and  go 
to  Cuba?  I  dare  not  show  up  again  in  Texas  or  on  the 
Rio  Grande.  I  could  crush  the  Leavenworths  by  inform- 
ing on  them.  The  Rio  Grande  Company!  Ah!  what 


FOR   LIFE    AND    LOVE.  367 

a  blow  I  could  deal.  To  inform  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  of  the  smuggling,  to  give  away  the  whole 
chain  of  customs  officials,  to  throw  a  bomb-shell  into 
Chisholm's  camp.  Yes !  It  would  be  a  crushing  revenge ! 
I  can  not  face  them.  That  girl's  baby  face  has  spoiled 
my  chances.  Should  I  pull  down  Steele  and  Milly  with 
that  crowd  ?  No !  The  old  fox  is  too  crafty.  By  Jove ! 
I  will  send  Jose"  over  to  Matamoras  and  see  if  Milly  has 
any  heart  left.  She  may  have  written  me,  and  he  can  also 
spy  out  the  situation  at  the  ranch.  Alligator  Charley 
can  go,  too!  He  is  free,  and  I  will  play  one  spy  off 
against  the  other.  It's  a  good  scheme." 

In  the  cool  of  the  next  evening,  Charley  rode  away, 
followed- by  Maxan's  men. 

"  I  will  cultivate  Kenyon  in  the  week  they  are  gone," 
mused  Maxan.  Young,  energetic,  and  with  surging 
passions,  he  dreamed  of  a  new  life  in  the  smaller  Latin 
republics  where  he  would  be  a  man  of  mark.  "I  could 
work  the  State  Department  through  old  Steele;  Milly 
will  control  him  blindly.  But  to  leave  that  hound  'who 
struck  me,  yet  alive!  To  let  go  the  revenge  of  seeing 
Katie's  only  brother  fall  under  my  rifle!  To  know  her 
heart-broken.  Panchita,  the  mad  fool,  has  surely  told 
her  all.  There  I  was  feeble!  I  should  have  killed  her 
before  I  brought  that  baby-faced  Texan  to  the  haci- 
enda." The  thought  of  Manson's  triumphal  return, 
of  the  almost  inevitable  wedding  maddened  him.  He 
clenched  his  fists  and  raved  in  his  wanderings.  "  I  have 
to  fly  like  a  coward  and  leave  these  lovers  the  inherit- 
ance, the  girls,  the  railroad,  and  the  Rio  Grande  Com- 
pany! When  Manson  is  married  he  will  fall  into  the 
old  man's  secrets." 

Ramon  Maxan  groaned  in  helplessness.  His  bitter 
heart  hesitated  between  revenge  and  safety.  "  Did 
the  brother  get  a  mortal  wound? "  he  pondered.  "  I'll 


368  FOR   LIFE    AND   LOVE. 

know  that  when  they  come  back."  In  these  vain 
musings  he  awaited  the  return  of  Charley.  The  seventh 
day  dragged  along  to  a  close.  Maxan  had  exhausted 
every  bit  of  small  talk,  and  Kenyon,  growing  daily  more 
moody,  relapsed  into  silence.  The  'Jaguar'  did  not  dare 
to  approach  the  main  settlement,  and,  warned  by  the 
boy,  always  retired  to  a  mahogany-cutter's  hut,  at  the 
head  of  the  lake,  when  any  stranger  approached. 

"  I  must  get  out  of  this  death  in  life.  I  must  decide 
soon,  for  Alligator  Charley  will  be  here  before  mid- 
night. I  should  go  mad  here  like  poor  Kenyon." 
Maxan  was  seated  at  a  table,  his  eyes  really  watching  the 
bends  of  the  road,  but  trifling  with  a  note-book  he 
always  carried  in  an  inner  pocket  of  his  vest.  Several 
memoranda  and  notes,  unintelligible  to  the  stranger, 
spoke  to  him  of  the  now  precious  deposits.  Manson 
gazed  at  Kenyon,  lying  in  his  hammock,  his  eyes  fixed 
on  the  surface  of  the  lake  where  the  ferocious  cayman 
hid  in  the  reeds  and  the  flamingos  waded  for  the  slug- 
gish fish.  All  was  as  dull  as  the  banks  of  Lethe's 
stream !  His  romantic  and  artistic  nature  revolted  at  the 
inane  silence,  the  .vulgar  surroundings,  his  mean  and 
supine  flight!  His  active  brain  ran  over  the  world's 
map.  "A  foreign  service!  Bah!  To  be  the  lackey 
food  for  powder  of  a  prince!  Never!  Central  America! 
Death,  defeat,  assassination  follows  temporary  success! 
South  America!  Distant  and  over-run  with  advent- 
urers! The  Northern  States!  To  live  under  Yankee 
rule.  No!  And  yet,  and  yet,  if  Milly  had  a  heart  I 
might  rule,  I  might  rise  with  her  help."  He  opened  a 
flap  of  his  pocket-book.  Her  picture  glowed  before  his 
eyes.  A  gaze  of  love  in  the  days  of  his  Washington 
social  career.  "  Wonderful  woman!  Can  she  afford  to 
ignore  me?  Is  she,  too,  a  cold  egoist?"  As  he  gazed, 
a  clatter  of  hoofs  aroused  him.  Alligator  Charley,  his 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  369 

unkempt  hair  streaming  in  the  wind,  drew  upon  a 
foaming  horse.  But  he  was  alone! 

"Quick!  Not  a  minute  to  lose!  Here's  my  pistol 
and  belt!  Gallop  to  the  wood-cutter's  hut!  Concea! 
your  horse!  Soldiers  are  on  your  trail!  That  d — d 
adjutant  of  Mejia's  regiment  captured  Jose  and  tort- 
ured the  truth  out  of  him.  I  gave  them  a  hot  race,  but 
they  have  trailed  me.  I'll  come  to  you!  Lay  low! 
I'll  bring  all  you  need!  I'll  whistle  three  times  the  old 
swamp  call.  Go!" 

A  cloud  of  dust  rose  around  the  bend  of  the  road. 
Maxan  dashed  away,  pistol  in  hand.  The  forest  tangles 
had  hardly  closed  over  him  before  the  pursuers 
appeared. 

"Help  me  hide  these  things,  quick!"  Charley  called 
to  Bob  Kenyon,  who  had  left  his  hammock.  The 
recluse  swept  the  articles  on  the  table  into  his  hammock 
and  lay  down.  Charley  dropped  lazily  on  a  raw-hide 
couch. 

"  Silence  for  our  lives!  You  know  nothing!  "  whis- 
pered Charley,  as  the  eager  adjutant  dashed  up  at  the 
head  of  a  dozen  wolfish-looking  troopers. 

"Where  is  he?  Give  him  up!"  cried  that  ubiquitous 
officer,  his  pistol  cocked,  his  keen  eye  glittering. 

"  What  is  wanted  ?  "  said  Charley,  in  lazy  indifference. 

"  Ramon  el  Jaguar,  the  outlaw!  Five  hundred  pesos 
on  his  head,  dead  or  alive!  Search  the  place !"  cried 
the  officer. 

Alligator  Charley  wondered  if  Maxan  had  ridden  on 
the  trail.  "  He's  a  gone  coon  if  he  did.  This  chap 
means  business! " 

Ah,  no!  The  Creole,  with  lightning  reasoning,  had 
urged  the  tired  steed  into  the  forest,  and  ridden  far 
out  in  a  circle  toward  the  head  of  the  lake.  There 
were  no  tell-tale  hoof -prints  on  the  trail! 


370  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"Where  is  your  own  horse?"  demanded  the  adjutant. 

"Boy  out  hunting  meat,"  rejoined  Charley  stolidly. 
Every  moment  was  precious.  Kenyon  gazed  blankly 
at  the  soldiers.  Questioning  him  was  in  vain.  Charley 
tapped  his  own  forehead  and  murmured:  "Enfermo! 
Calentura! " 

The  officer  recoiled  from  a  possible  fever  patient. 
After  ten  minutes  of  fruitless  search,  the  angry  soldier 
sternly  said: 

"Why  did  you  fly  from  us?" 

"I  took  you  for  'ladrones,'  road  thieves,  and  I  rode 
in  here  to  give  the  alarm."  Charley  was  a  past-master 
in  the  art  of  lying! 

"  I  will  flay  you  alive  if  I  find  you  lying,"  said  the 
officer. 

He  could  not  break  Alligator  Charley's  calm. 

"  I  shall  see  the  Jefe  Politico  about  this  outrage.  I  am 
a  registered  emigrant,"  the  stubborn  rebel  said  stub- 
bornly. 

"But  the  man  whom  you  had  with  you?"  the 
doubtful  soldier  persisted. 

"  I  met  him  on  the  road  from  Matamoras.  He  was 
afraid — we  travelled  for  company.  Do  /  look  like  a 
peon  ?  " 

"I  shall  summon  you  before  the  Governor.  You 
will  be  shot  if  you  are  deceiving  me!  Give  him  up! " 

Alligator  Charley  said  calmly :  "  I  know  the  Gov- 
ernor, and  you  will  only  make  a  fool  of  yourself.  I 
never  even  saw  your  man.  I  have  not  left  here  for 
two  years,  save  on  this  trip  to  order  some  goods." 

"I  will  get  back  and  start  out  the  rural  guards," 
thought  the  adjutant.  "I  must  go  on  with  my  report 
to  Mejia."  With  curses  and  bravado  the  patrol  rode 
away, 

"A  close  call!  "said  Charley,  as   he  took  a  fresher. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  371 

"  See  here,  Major,  those  devils  might  come  back.  If 
I  were  away  they  might  drag  you  off  to  prison.  You 
had  better  go  up,  as  soon  as  it  is  dark,  to  the  old  cabin. 
Sound  the  call  three  times,  thus."  Kenyon  nodded. 
"  I  will  make  a  pack  for  my  friend  and  send  the  boy  up 
at  midnight  with  his  horse  and  an  outfit.  He  had 
better  strike  out  for  the  upper  Rio  Grande.  They  will 
catch  him  sure  if  he  stays  here.  I  know  they  will 
return.  I'll  write  him  a  scrawl,  and  there's  two  letters 
to  give  him  that  I  got  from  the  post-office  at  Mata- 
moras." 

A  groan  startled  Alligator  Charley  as  Bob  Kenyon 
dashed  to  the  flickering  light  of  the  candle,  gazing 
eagerly  at  an  object  clutched  in  his  thin  fingers. 

«  What's  up?  "  cried  Charley. 

"Nothing!"  said  Kenyon.  "I  will  go!  Let  the 
woman  catch  my  horse."  He  folded  his  arms  and 
gazed  out  silently  on  the  darkened  lake. 

"  Off  his  head  again !  I  can't  do  better  though,"  mused 
Charley,  as  he  selected  a  bundle  of  articles  useful  in 
Maxan's  flight.  "  He  must  have  got  deeply  into  dirty 
work.  Well,  he  can  lay  low,  escaping  over  the  National 
Road,  and  work  out  by  El  Paso  or  Presidio  del  Norte. 
Ramon  had  better  strike  for  Arizona  and  the  Pacific 
Coast.  The  jig  is  up  here." 

As  Kenyon  rode  away,  Charley  noticed  that  he  held 
a  drawn  pistol  in  his  hand.  "He's  a  queer  fellow;  a 
fearless  soldier,  and  yet  timid  in  the  evening  shadows. 
He  has  one  of  his  turns  on!  Well,  I'll  thank  God  to 
be  rid  of  Maxan.  He's  a  very  lively  visitor." 

By  the  darkened  shores  of  the  lake,  Kenyon  halted 
his  horse  at  the  lonely  hut.  All  was  silence.  The 
erratic  messenger  paused.  "  Shall  I  do  it  when  he 
comes?  No,"  he  thought,  with  cunning.  «  I'll  make 
him  talk  first,  then,  I'll  kill  him.  He  stole  her  from 


372  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

me!  Fate  brought  him  into  my  power."  Sounding 
the  call  three  times,  it  was  softly  answered,  and  Maxan 
appeared,  pistol  in  hand. 

"Not  now!  not  now!"  muttered  Kenyon.  He 
spoke  earnestly  to  the  fugitive  and  gave  him  the  letters. 

Maxan  raged  like  a  wild  beast  at  bay,  while  Kenyon 
moodily  watched  him.  He  seemed  to  have  no  words 
beyond  his  message.  "  I  must  send  word  back  to  Char- 
ley. It  may  be  my  last  chance  to  use  a  trusty  friend. 
I'll  have  to  strike  for  No  Man's  Land.  There,  rifle  in 
hand,  and  a  horse  under  me,  I  am  any  man's  equal! 
There's  no  cursed  law,  rank,  or  character  there. 
Major  Kenyon,"  he  said  slowly,  "  I  am  in  trouble. 
I  have  but  little  time.  Follow  me.  I've  found  a  little 
arroyo  here  with  cover.  I  can  light  a  fire  there,  read 
these  letters,  and  send  word  back  to  Charley.  You 
can  mark  the  place  to  tell  the  boy  where  to  come.  If 
any  one  should  follow  us,  you  can  stay  by  the  fire.  I 
will  escape  by  the  arroyo  into  the  forest! " 

Kenyon  nodded  silently.  "  I'll  kill  him  and  bury 
him  there  under  the  leaves,"  the  distracted  man  plotted, 
as  he  followed.  He  almost  laughed  aloud.  "  And 
Charley  will  think  the  Mexicans  slew  him  if  he  ever 
finds  him !  " 

Unconscious  of  his  impending  doom,  Maxan  strode  a 
few  paces.  "  I've  got  my  horse  hidden  up  there  in  the 
forest!" 

"Good!"  said  Kenyon,  with  a  cheerful  face. 

Maxan  busied  himself  at  gathering  dry  leaves  and 
branches,  and  soon  a  fire  leaped  up  with  a  bright  light, 
illumining  the  little  cut,  but  not  visible  in  the  higher 
level  of  the  dense  forest. 

As  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  to  read,  Maxan  tore 
open  his  letters.  He  read,  and  with  a  hollow  growl  of 
despair  threw  them  down.  His  head  dropped  on  his 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  373 

breast.  «  I'll  follow  her,  by  God,  I'll—"  his  hoarse 
growl  of  defiance  ceased  as  he  realized  that  Kenyon 
had  thrust  a  pistol  in  his  face,  and,  holding  out  Milly 
Steele's  picture,  cried:  "  Pray,  you  dog!  I'll  kill  you 
myself!  You  stole  my  ivifef"  El  Jaguar,  cool  and 
fearless,  gazed  in  his  half -crazed  enemy's  eyes!  A 
sudden  inspiration  seized  him!  "Shoot,  Major!  "he 
cried,  "kill  an  innocent  man!  That  picture!  You 
found  it  in  my  pocket-book  ?  " 

"  I  did,  you  villain!  "  roared  Kenyon.  "  It's  my  lost 
wife's.  Oh!  God!  How  beautiful!"  He  threw  down 
the  revolver  at  Maxan's  feet  and  sobbed  like  a  child. 

Ramon  was  of  the  electric  mind  of  great  command- 
ers. He  eyed  the  cocked  weapon  scornfully  as  it  lay  at 
his  feet.  Handing  Kenyon  his  own,  he  said :  "  Kill  me 
now!  Take  this  and  then — then — you  would  never 
know  the  truth." 

Young,  fearless,  resolute,  his  handsome  face  lit  up  by 
the  flickering  fire,  Ramon  Maxan  looked  like  a  daunt- 
less demi-god.  His  words  brought  conviction  to  Ken- 
yon. 

"  Tell  me  the  story.  I  must  be  on  my  way.  And 
you — you!  Ah!  My  head  is  bad — bad!  " 

"  That  woman  is  now  the  wife  of  Senator  Steele  at 
Washington,  the  great  carpet-bagger  politician.  She 
told  me  she  was  a  widow.  That  her  name  was  Smiley. 
That  her  husband  died  abroad.  She  and  her  rascal 
husband  decoyed  me  down  here  to  further  their 
schemes.  When  I  had  done  all  I  could,  they  planned 
my  assassination  as  I  knew  of  his  corrupt  frauds  on  the 
Government.  It  is  God's  truth!  I  see  it  all  now!  " 

In  a  half-hour  the  specious  tale  was  done,  and  Ken- 
yon rode  alone  toward  Charley's  camp.  He  seemed 
sobered  by  the  pretended  revelation. 

" Leave  vengeance  to  me!    I  will  face  them   both! 


374  poR  LIFE  AXD  LOVE. 

Be  comforted!  I  will  send  Charley  himself  to  you. 
Take  my  pistol  also!  Put  your  fire  out.  You  might 
be  surprised.  You  will  hear  ringing  over  the  South 
the  story  of  how  I  will  punish  them."  He  galloped 
away. 

"Am  I  going  mad?  "  said  Maxan  while  he  hid  like  a 
bear  in  his  cave,  waiting  Charley 'scorning.  "  It  seems 
my  head  will  burst.  So  this  half-crazed  fool's  wife 
was  Milly  Smiley!  He  may  do  a  part  of  my  work 
for  me.  Now,  it  is  only  vengeance!  I  will  pull  down 
the  temple  on  the  wedding  feast.  I  can  strike  them  all." 

The  letter  from  Milly  Steele  proved  that  his  lying 
deceit  was  discovered.  Panchita's  story  was  now 
known. 

"  You  never  were  true  to  even  the  passing  moment. 
We  are,  in  life  and  death,  strangers  now."  The  woman 
wrote,  secure  in  her  position:  "  Try  to  shake  my  influ- 
ence over  my  husband!  Your  every  interest  is  ruined. 
Dare  to  use  this  letter,  and  I'll  have  you  hunted  out  of 
Mexico." 

"  The  sly  fiend !  She  has  used  another  woman's 
pen.  She  would  claim  I  forged  this.  And  Mr.  Chis- 
holm!  I  am  to  look  out  for  the  trains  of  smuggled 
dollars  from  Saltillo,  another  great  '  run  in  of  smug- 
gled goods  from  Havana.'  I  have  it!  Let  every  fiend 
of  hell  rejoice!  I'll  pay  them  yet  in  their  own  coin. 
Blood  for  blood !  Lie  for  lie!  Treachery  for  treach- 
ery!" He  crouched  in  the  dell  till  Charley  dashed  up. 

"  The  coast  is  now  clear.  I  had  the  boy  and  the 
woman  dog  the  soldiers  out  of  the  settlement,  and  I  have 
a  dozen  spies  ready  to  bring  me  word  of  any  descent. 
The  boy  will  be  here  in  a  few  minutes  with  a  pack- 
mule,  and  I  have  brought  your  horse  along.  He's  in 
splendid  trim.  Now,  what  can  I  do  for  you?  You 
must  leave  at  once ! " 


FOR   LIFE    AND   LOVE.  375 

"  Charley,  do  you  want  some  money  ? "  said  El  Jaguar 
temptingly.  "How  would  £200  English  Bank  of 
England  start  you  home? " 

The  emigrant  sprung  to  his  feet. 

"  If  I  had  that,  I'd  drive  my  horses,  packed,  to  Tam- 
pico,  sell  them,  jump  on  the  steamer  (there's  two  a 
week  to  New  Orleans),  and  when  I  got  a  gentleman's 
outfit  and  was  trimmed  up,  I'd  work  the  Mississippi 
River  boats  and  live  at  home  like  a  gentleman — gam- 
bler /"  he  prudently  concluded  silently. 

"Now,  listen  to  me,"  calmly  said  Maxan.  "  I  have  a 
powerful  friend  at  Hidalgo,  forty  miles  from  here.  He 
has  a  gang  in  the  Sierras.  I'll  have  them  land  me  at 
Presidio  del  Norte.  Now,  if  my  horse  does  not  drop 
dead,  I'll  ride  in  by  daybreak.  Can  you  take  the  open 
road  and  be,  at  sundown,  at  the  market  plaza  of  Hidalgo 
to-morrow  night?  " 

"Yes;  but  what  for?"  Charley  queried  in  mystified 
astonishment. 

"  To  get  a  half-dozen  letters  which  I  will  prepare 
and  two  or  three  telegrams.  Also  to  get  the  two  hun- 
dred pounds  !  I  will  give  you  the  cut  halves  of  two 
hundred  more  myself,  and  when  you  send  back  the  reg- 
istered receipts  for  the  letters  and  telegrams,  I'll  send 
by  the  boy  a  sealed  letter  with  the  other  half-notes  to 
you.  Can  I  count  on  it?  Will  you  play  fair?" 

"Ramon,  I'd  sell  my  soul  for  half  of  it!  I  want  to 
leave  this  cursed  land  forever.  I  have  even  thought  of 
suicide.  Go  ahead!  I'll  meet  you!  I've  brought  all 
you  need.  Here's  brandy  and  cigars.  Stay !  I'll  send 
the  boy  on  with  you  with  my  horse,  and  I'll  come  over 
on  Kenyon's." 

The  servant  appeared  at  the  arroyo  mouth  leading  a 
packed  mule,  as  Charley  spoke.  "  Let  the  boy  wait  in 
the  market-place  and  meet  me.  You  go  cross  country 
of  course?" 


376  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  Certainly,"  said  Maxan,  who  was  now  ready  for  de- 
parture. "I  can  count  on  you?  You'll  come  for  the 
money,  anyway,"  sneered  Maxan,  as  he  mounted. 

"Shake  hands,  Charley,  once  for  luck!"  he  said 
kindly,  and  resolutely  plunged  into  the  forest. 

Two  days  later,  Alligator  Charley  was  astounded 
when  he  read  the  addresses  of  the  letters  confided  to 
him.  "The  President  of  the  United  States."  "The 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury."  "  The  Secretary  of  War." 
"  The  Attorney-General,"  and  several  other  dignitaries. 
The  telegrams  bore  such  names  as  A.  R.  Chisholm  & 
Co.  of  New  Orleans;  Mark  Manson,  18  Wall  Street, 
New  York  City,  and  others. 

"  This  is  some  important  business  broken  up  by  my 
trouble  at  Zacate.  I  have  been  in  secret  relations  with 
the  customs  and  treasury  departments,"  Maxan  wearily 
said. 

"Well!  I  will  attend  to  all!  Now,  I'll  make  the 
quickest  trip  ever  made  to  Tampico.  I'll  wager  my 
life  on  this ! "  Charley  was  radiant.  He  had  his  money 
— a  fortune  to  him.  The  means  of  return  and  a  gam- 
bler's stake  outfit.  Looking  around  the  obscure  hovel 
in  Hidalgo,  where  Maxan  met  him,  for  he  would  not 
take  Charley  to  his  lair,  the  messenger  said,  "  And  the 
boy  is  to  come  here  to  meet  you?" 

"Yes!"  shouted  Maxan  in  impatience.  "They  will 
bring  him  to  me!" 

Charley  sprang  on  his  horse.  "Anything  more  I 
can  do?"  He  had  a  sympathy  for  the  hunted  man! 
There  were  already  official  posters  on  the  walls  of  the 
alcalde's  house,  offering  a  reward  for  "El  Jaguar!" 

"Yes!"  said  Ramon,  struck  by  a  sudden  thought. 
"  If  you  can  get  Kenyon  to  go  over  with  you,  do  so, 
and  turn  him  loose  in  New  Orleans.  He  will  go  crazy 
•here.  I'll  send  a  hundred  pounds  for  him." 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  3^7 

«  I'll  do  it!"  cried  Charley  as  he  gathered  his  horse. 
"And  you,  old  comrade,  where  do  you  go?" 

"I  go  to  the  wilderness;  to  hell,  for  all  I  care!" 
said  Ramon,  turning  on  his  heel  and  striding  away, 
undaunted  and  triumphant.  He  watched  the  flying 
steed  bear  Charley  away.  "It's  done!"  he  cried,  as  he 
drained  his  flask. 

"I  may  win  on  the  double  event!  Now,  for 
Comanche  Land!" 

When  the  column,  escorted  by  Mejia's  troop  of 
Lancers,  reached  the  elm-fringed  banks  of  the  Rio 
Grandest  Ringgold  Barracks,  the  two  young  men  had 
galloped  on  a  mile  in  advance.  As  Colonel  Ford  noted 
Katie  Leavenworth's  pretty  head  thrust  out  of  the 
ambulance  impatiently,  he  suggested  the  getting  ready 
of  a  boat. 

When  the  wagon  drew  up  at  the  landing,  without  a 
word  Katie  ran  swiftly  to  the  barge.  The  Mexican 
Lancers  gazed  in  astonishment.  "Go  ahead!"  cried 
Ford.  "  We  will  come  over  later."  And  while  the 
heavy  boat  swept  slowly  to  the  Texan  shore,  the  fair 
girl  leaned  her  head  on  Jack  Manson's  shoulder  and 
burst  into  tears! 

Colonel  Ford  was  busied  with  crossing  his  now  tired 
men,  and  in  saying  adieu  to  the  officers  of  the  Mexican 
escort  who  had  borne  themselves  like  good  men  and 
true. 

"  Your  men  shall  have  a  royal  reward  as  well  as  a 
father's  thanks,"  said  Ford,  glad  to  see  his  own  turbu- 
lent volunteers  safely  on  their  way  over  the  dividing 
line.  As  the  flat-boats  pushed  off,  crowded  with  horse- 
men, the  old  colonel  swung  his  hat  and  cried :  "  Boys, 
take  the  town,  hang  out  at  the  Post  traders!  Have  a 
night  of  it!  Si  Leavenworth  will  foot  the  bill  in 
Texan  style***  The  happy  colonel  jumped  into  a  skiff 


378  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

and  made  his  way  to  a  light  river  steamer  moored  on 
the  American  bank. 

It  was  one  of  the  Rio  Grande  Company's  light  fleet. 
When  he  entered  the  cabin,  Katie  Leavenworth  was 
being  smothered  in  the  embrace  of  a  bevy  of  officers' 
wives  about  to  embark  for  Brownsville.  They  had 
learned  every  detail  of  the  romantic  recapture  of  the 
Rose  of  San  Miguel!  Lovely  Katie  was  carried  away 
in  triumph  by  the  feminine  coterie,  and  Jack  Manson 
was  left  alone  with  the  silver-haired  ranger.  Tom 
Bayard  was  already  at  the  fort  hastening  an  ambulance 
and  escort.  "  Lady  Bird,  we  will  drive  to  Smith's 
Ranch  before  we  sleep;  for  to-morrow  night,  please 
God,  you  will  be  in  your  mother's  arms  at  home!" 
The  grateful  girl  threw  her  arms  around  his  neck  and 
kissed  him  warmly,  as  he  galloped  away  on  a  trooper's 
horse. 

"Listen  to  this!"  cried  Manson  to  Colonel  Ford, 
who  was  enjoying  an  immense  cocktail  brought  by 
the  officious  head-steward.  "It  is  beyond  our  hopes! 
McNally's  men  caught  Ximenes  hiding  near  Los 
An-geles.  They  found  out  the  route  of  the  other  bandits 
from  him,  and,  finding  maps  of  San  Miguel  on  his 
person,  then  hung  him  to  a  tree.  Dispatching  a  courier 
to  Buller  at  Las  Cuevas,  they  cut  off  the  rest  of 
Maxan's  hirelings,  and  have  killed  or  captured  the 
remainder  of  Caballo  Blanco's  band.  It's  a  victory,  a 
punishment,  and  a  warning!" 

"  Glory !  "  cried  Ford,  starting  to  his  feet.  "  Where's 
Lieutenant  Buller?" 

"  Marching  home  here  with  his  prisoners,  and 
General  Singleton  has  sent  word  he  will  send  him  to 
San  Antonio  with  dispatches  and  permission  to  delay  a 
week  at  San  Miguel  on  his  return ! " 

The  old  ranger's  cup  of  happiness  was  full.    "  This 


FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE.  379 

clears  the  border.  There's  but  one  thing  now  I  ask  for," 
he  &aid  joyfully. 

"  And  that  is?  "  queried  Manson. 

"  Maxan's  death"  cried  Tom  Bayard,  who  had  just 
sprung  on  board. 

"  Even  that  will  come.  It  is  written  in  the  '  Book  of 
Fate ' ! "  said  Jack  Manson  sternly. 

Tom  Bayard  headed  a  visiting  procession  of  officers, 
ladies,  and  local  notables  who  trooped  down  to  welcome 
the  tender  girl  reclaimed  from  the  awful  perils  of  the 
robber  stronghold.  Despite  all  the  entreaty  of  General 
Singleton,  in  an  hour,  a  fleet  four-in-hand  team,  hastily 
made  up,  was  bearing  the  rescued  heiress,  under  the 
escort  of  twenty  bronzed  cavalrymen,  to  the  end  of 
the  first  stage  of  her  homeward  journey.  Bonfire  and 
"  baile,"  feasting  and  jollification  made  the  evening  of 
Katie's  return  the  red-letter  day  in  the  history  of  Ring- 
gold  Barracks!  Far  in  advance,  two  breathless  couriers 
raced  along  under  the  starlight  to  announce  the  home- 
coming of  the  captured  maiden! 

It  was  a  month  after  the  wild  shout  went  up  from 
two  hundred  throats,  as  the  rescue  party  drove  up  to 
the  broad  porch  of  the  mansion  at  San  Miguel,  when 
Manson's  promised  bride  awoke  in  her  own  lovely 
home-nest.  By  her  side  a  mother  and  sister  smiled 
through  their  tears! 

"  You  have  been  very  ill,  my  darling,"  cried  the  pale 
nurse  of  love.  "  Do  you  know  me  now,  my  own  little 
girl?"  tenderly  said  old  Silas,  clasping  in  his  arms 
the  frail'sufferer. 

For  it  was  a  pale,  white  rose,  not  daring,  laughing 
Katie,  who  lay  where  the  breath  of  the  roses  was  wafted 
in  at  the  open  windows.  The  fresh  crimson  came  back' 
to  her  cheeks  when,  his  face  still  drawn  and  ghastly 
with  the  ravages  of  his  wound,  Jimmy  Leavenworth 


380  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

stole  in,  and  silently  led  Jack  Manson  up  to  the  tender- 
eyed  invalid.  In  the  quiet  of  the  sunny  afternoon 
Brother  Jimmy  placed  his  sister's  then  transparent 
hand  in  his  comrade's  broad  palm. 

"For  Life  and  Love!"  he  whispered,  and  left  them 
a  few  blessed  moments  together. 

Time  sped  on  golden  wings,  now  that  some  strange 
spirit  of  renewed  life  brought  the  blue-eyed  little 
frontier  princess  soon  under  the  graceful  shade  of  her 
listening  friends,  the  roses  of  San  Miguel. 

It  was  an  exquisite  season  to  the  girl — this  coming 
back  from  the  wan  shade,  hovering  at  the  gate  of  depart- 
ure, to  be  once  more  the  spirited  little  autocrat  of  the 
great  domain!  Gently  pacing  her  familiar  walks,  lean- 
ing on  the  arm  of  her  gallant  lover,  Katie  Leavenworth's 
eyes  in  their  blue  depths  showed  no  shadow  of  parting 
any  more! 

An  unwonted  bustle  woke  the  echoes  of  San  Miguel. 
For  in  great  detachments,  like  the  advanced  lines  of  an 
army-,  hundreds  of  strong  arms  were  now  toiling  on 
the  railway,  in  feverishly  pushed  construction. 

But  shadows,  trials!  A  blackest  thunder-cloud  rolled 
suddenly  over  the  enterprise  and  its  backers  and  pro- 
moters! A  bomb-shell  had  burst  in  the  camp  of  the 
Rio  Grande  Company  hurled  by  a  merciless  hand. 

Jimmy  Leavenworth  called  Jack  Manson  aside 

"  For  God's  sake,  do  not  bring  matters  to  a  crisis 
about  Katie  now.  Have  you  any  telegrams?  Father 
is  almost  beside  himself.  He  just  showed  me  one  in 
cipher  from  New  Orleans." 

Look  out  for  all !  I  have  to  get  out  to  Cuba !  Trouble  some- 
where !  Steele  in  mortal  terror.  Discovery  of  private  business. 
Telegraph  "  Munoz,"  Havana.  Will  write. 

CHISHOLM, 
And  also  another. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  381 

What  is  up  ?  Everything  against  us  here.  Instruct  me  fully. 
No.  4.  has  drav/n  out !  Danger ! 

This  was  signed  "  Steele." 

"  Now !  I  do  not  know  all  my  father's  old  business, 
those  war  intrigues,  cotton  schemes,  but  he  tells  me  that 
his  mail  contracts  are  stopped,  and  he  is  raging  at 
heart." 

"  I  am  thankful,"  quietly  said  Jack  Manson.  "  It  is 
hard  to  be  true  to  both  sides  of  a  question.  But  look  at 
this,  Jimmy.  You  and  I  are  brothers  now !  I  am  afraid 
that  your  father  has  mixed  in  some  dangerous  ventures 
unknown  to  you.  I  will  translate  this  cipher.  I  have 
not  answered  it!  It  is  from  my  uncle."  The  lover 
read  slowly: 

Steele  in  disgrace  with  the  President.  Sweeping  political 
changes  on  Rio  Grande.  Much  excitement.  Has  affected  bonds 
twenty  per  cent.  Sensational  articles  in  journals  about  Leaven- 
worth.  The  Rio  Grande  Company  attacked.  Mrs.  Steele  coming 
here  to  see  me  privately.  Our  silent  partner  has  abandoned  us. 
What  has  happened?  Is  Silas  Leavenworth  playing  fair? 
Answer.  Strictly  private.  "Immediate!" 

It  was  dated  at  New  York  and  signed  Mark  Man- 
son. 

"  Now,  Jimmy,  I  have  refrained  from  acting  the  spy 
as  well  as  representative  agent,  for  your  sake,  *  for 
Katie's  sake.'  I  fear  there  are  border  mysteries  you  and 
I  know  nothing  of.  I  will  do  this.  I  will  answer, 
'  nothing  unusual  here.  All  satisfactory  here.  Silas 
is  square  in  every  way,'  and  after  that  Mark  can  use 
other  special  agents.  I  can't  break  a  man's  bread  and 
spy  on  the  host  whose  roof  covers  me.  Let  us  swear 
brotherhood.  Tell  me  all.  I  will  work  as  if  your 
father  were  my  o-wn  !  " 

"You  are  a  true  man!"  cried  Jimmy.     "I  fear  my 


382  FOR   LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

poor  old  father  has  something  to  conceal.  Mother  and 
the  girls  know  nothing,  but  they  are  alarmed.  Mean- 
while, tell  me  all  you  can,  in  honor." 

The  feverish  bustle  of  San  Miguel  for  a  week  later 
exceeded  any  previous  excitement  even  of  the  war. 
Nordenskiold,  Blucher,  Tom  Bayard,  Beriah  Mott,  the 
Collector  from  Brownsville,  arrived  in  converging  par- 
ties, with  bad  news  and  vague  rumors,  which  blackened 
the  clouds  on  old  Silas  Leavenworth's  haggard  brow. 
Riders  and  messengers  kept  the  roads  in  dust-douds, 
raised  by  flying  hoofs. 

"The  whole  military  force  on  the  border  is  re- 
arranged, the  Customs  Inspectors  have  been  trans- 
ferred, and  a  special  session  of  the  Grand  Jury  is  called," 
whispered  Jimmy,  when  he  found  Katie  sobbing  in 
Jack's  arms.  "There  is  some  deviltry  up!"  said  the 
open-minded  Texan. 

"I  fear  dear  old  father  is  going  mad!"  sobbed 
Katie,  and  Mary  Leavenworth,  with  Alice's  advice, 
sent  a  rider,  post-haste,  for  Colonel  Tom  Bayard. 

El  Jaguar's  letters  had  reached  their  destination,  and 
he  was  far  away  safe  in  the  fastnesses  of  No  Man's 
Land.  Revenge  had  won  the  first  trick.  The  Rio 
Grand  Company  was  ruined! 


CHAPTER  XV. 

A  NOTABLE    ABDICATION "WHAT!    BOTIl!" "JlMMY 

ALSO  " A    CAPTIVE    KING ON  THE    PECOS THE 

TALKING  WIRE THE  PEON     BOY's    GRATITUDE 

AT  THE  PAINTED  CAVES THE  JAGUAR  AT  BAY 

YOUR  LIFE  OR  MINE MY  SON  JACK. 

WHILE  discontent  and   gloom  hung  like   a  pall  over 
San  Miguel  Rancho,  the  efficient  working  parties,  sent 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  383 

over  from  New  Orleans  by  Mark  Manson's  skilled  con- 
tractors, were  rapidly  laying  down  the  first  third  of  the 
new  railroad.  A  firm  of  veteran  contractors,  under  the 
old  capitalist's  personal  orders,  were  simply  throwing 
up  foundation  enough  to  drain  the  track,  as  the  initial 
hundred  miles  was  the  very  gentlest  prairie  inclined 
plane.  Time  hung  heavily  on  Jack  Manson's  hands. 
Old  Silas  denied  his  confidence  even  to  his  son,  and  the 
ladies  of  San  Miguel  were  careworn  and  anxious. 

"  I  can  not  press  my  heart  demands  in  these  days  of 
trouble,"  thought  the  lover.  "  I'll  get  Jimmy  as  his 
father's  representative,  and  inspect  the  undivided 
ranches  and  the  stock  thereon.  It  will  leave  Katie  free 
to  regain  her  mental  quiet,  and  I  will  perfect  my  knowl- 
edge of  the  regions  toward  the  Fecos  and  the  Nueces." 

"  It  is  a  grand  idea!  "  cried  young  Leavenworth.  "I 
wish  to  arrange  some  business  at  Bayard's  ranch.  I  am 
determined  to  establish  a  running  guard  against  horse 
thieves,  Indians,  and  desperadoes  sweeping  down  from 
the  Northwest,  for  their  day  of  rule  between  the  Gulf 
and  Laredo  is  over.  Even  now  our  supply  parties  and 
advance  workmen,  with  the  detail  survey  parties  under 
Major  Blucher,  prevent  any  sudden  dash  from  Mexico. 
The  temporary  telegraph  is  a  wonder.  As  soon  as  it 
reaches  us  we'll  have  a  line  run  over  to  Ringgold  Bar- 
racks. There  we  have  the  troops  and  rangers  at  call." 

So,  with  only  stolen  interviews  and  a  brief  private 
explanation  to  Katie,  Jack  Manson  rode  forth,  glad  to 
relieve  Silas  of  his  presence,  as  it  would  give  him  time 
for  secret  manoeuvres.  Manson's  rapidly  acquired  front- 
ier experience  told  him  of  a  fatal  undertow  in  the  affairs 
of  the  mysterious  Company. 

"Jack,  it  is  better  you  should  go  away  for  a  fort- 
night," cried  the  loving  girl,  clinging  to  him  in  her 
gentle  sorrow.  "  Father  and  mother  have  long  midnight 


384  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

vigils  of  care,  and  I  have  heard  her  sobbing  herself  to 
sleep.  Even  Jimmy  does  not  know  the  cause.  It  can 
not  be  danger!  He  would  know  of  that.  It  could  not 
be  hidden  from  him.  But  it  is  some  business  trouble, 
and  it  must  be  grave.  I  never  knew  my  father 
unnerved  before." 

The  still  invalid  beauty  could  not  know  that  Silas 
Leavenworth  feared  the  open,  honest  glance  of  his  gal- 
lant son.  That  he  dared  not  tell  all  to  the  generous 
lover  who  had  torn  his  daughter  away  from  the  arms 
of  the  kidnapper.  She  knew  not  that  he  feared  Mark 
Hanson's  resentment  at  the  imperilling  of  a  great 
enterprise  by  the  dark  intrigues  of  hunting  for  "  fool's 
gold."  All  the  loyal  daughter  did  know  was  that  the 
strong  man's  heart  was  riven  with  silent  sufferings. 

Afar,  in  his  lonely  camp  in  the  fastnesses  of  No 
Man's  Land,  three  hundred  miles  away,  Ramon 
Maxan  would  have  been  wild  in  a  tumult  of  joy  could 
he  have  realized  how  swiftly  the  shafts  launched  by 
him  had  sped ;  how  his  careful  betrayals  had  crippled 
the  "  secret  system "  of  his  now  hated  confederates. 
For  his  telegrams  to  Chisholm  and  others  had  placed 
their  unholy  ventures  where  a  sudden  descent  of  the 
strong  Federal  arm  had  paralyzed  every  movement! 
The  clear  and  daring  letters  to  great  Government 
officials  had  changed  the  Southwest  policy  of  the 
administration!  Revenue  cutters,  secret  agents,  army 
inspectors,  and  treasury  officials  were  now  eager  to  save 
their  imperilled  reputations,  and  be  "in  at  the  death"  of 
the  detected  "Company's"  illegal  traffic.  Alligator 
Charley  had  kept  his  faith.  Raging  in  unrest,  Maxan 
gathered  desperate  criminals  around  him.  "Why  not 
make  a  foray  with  renegades  and  Comanches  down 
into  the  Nueces,  sweep  over  the  « Big  Bend  of  the  Rio 
Grande,'  and,  leaving  the  band  to  divide  the  plunder, 


FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVK.  385 

hang  around  for  news  of  my  revenge."  The  outcast 
pondered  every  chance  and  possibility.  It  was  his 
Rubicon!  "I  will  be  months  here  before  I  can  get 
news  of  unusual  tumult  on  the  lower  Rio  Grande." 
He  dreamed  of  one  wild  raid,  and  then  a  final  disap- 
pearance toward  Sonora  or  Chihuahua. 

"  I  would  like  to  meet  those  two  fools  face  to  face ! 
Or  the  old  jackal,  Silas." 

His  brow  grew  darker,  and  his  devilish  brain  thrilled 
in  every  fibre  with  increasing  plotting. 

Manson  and  Leavenworth,  for  three  weeks,  guided 
by  old  Basilic,  now  as  active  as  ever,  though  a  shade 
more  spectral-looking,  scoured  the  regions  where  the 
broad  virgin  tracts  of  undivided  land  were  covered  with 
herds  of  cattle,  sheep,  and  horses.  Jaded,  wearied,  but 
freshened  in  heart  and  soul  by  the  silent  prairie  voy- 
age, the  two  friends  rode  down  into  Colonel  Thomas 
Bayard's  superb  valley  station,  on  the  oak-fringed 
Nueces. 

Before  their  steeds  were  at  their  corrals,  the  anxious 
ranch  superintendent  sought  them  with  letters. 

"Just  arrived  by  express  rider  from  San  Miguel.  I 
had  orders  to  send  out  a  party  and  find  you,"  he  said. 
When  Manson  opened  his  budget  he  saw  a  packet 
from  his  uncle,  a  bulky  letter  in  the  handwriting  of  the 
senator's  beautiful  wife,  and  a  document  franked  by  the 
statesman  himself.  He  threw  himself  on  a  bench  before 
the  beautiful  residence,  now  waiting  its  destined  mis- 
tress, and  began  to  read  the  fateful  letters. 

"Excuse  me,  dear  old  Jack,"  said  Leavenworth,  his 
voice  shaky.  "I  only  wish  to  confer  a  moment  with 
you.  My  father  writes  me  briefly  that  I  must  come 
to  him  as  soon  as  horseflesh  can  bring  me!  Jones,  here, 
will  give  me  an  escort  and  fresh  horses.  I  know  the 
road,  and  can  do  the  sixty  miles  by  nine  o'clock 


3-S6  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

to-morrow  morning.  Of  course,  /  am  my  father's  main- 
stay, his  only  confidant.  Ton  must  have  rest.  Don't 
mind  if  I  leave  you.  Jones  will  send  men  on  with 
you  to  care  for  my  horse  and  guide  you.  I'll  leave  you 
Basilio.  Can  you  read  this  mystery?" 

"See  here, Jimmy,"  said  Manson,  whose  own  brow 
was  clouded,  "  I  will  go  with  you.  Let  horses  be  made 
ready.  We  will  have  some  refreshment.  Let  us  leave 
Basilio  to  pilot  our  band  in  and  bring  on  our  two 
beauties.  There  is  grave  trouble  in  store  for  all  of  us. 
I  will  not  hide  from  you;  these  letters  are  full  of  it.  But 
give  me  a  half-hour  to  read  all  my  letters,  have  a  can  of 
good  coffee,  and  I'm  your  man.  I'll  stand  by  your 
father,  by  you,  by  all,  for  old  times,  and — for  Katie's 
sake." 

There  was  a  quiver  in  Jimmy's  voice  as  he  said,  "  God 
bless  you,  Jack.  You  are  true  blue.  It  is  as  I  feared. 
Some  estrangement  of  your  uncle.  It  would  break 
down  my  father  to  have  that  enterprise  stopped!" 

"  It  must  not  be!  Let  me  read  and  think."  For  the 
first  time  since  their  college  union  of  hearts,  Jack's 
honor  forced  him  to  have  a  secret  from  Jimmy  Leaven- 
worth. 

Mechanically  folding  his  letters,  when  he  had  read 
them,  he  drained  a  huge  measure  of  coffee,  filled  his 
pockets  with  cigars,  took  a  few  turns  around  the  beau- 
tiful enclosure,  and  said : 

"Now  for  the  road!  We  will  get  under  way,  and 
when  we  have  to  breathe  our  horses,  I'll  tell  you  what 
I  can,  and  what  I  propose."  The  evening  star  was 
sparkling  in  the  east  when  they  loosed  their  horses' 
reins.  It  was  well  judged  in  Manson  to  wait  until  they 
had  covered  twenty  of  the  sixty  miles,  before  he 
evolved  a  plan  to  meet  the  issues  presented  by  the  let- 
ters which  weighed  upon  his  uneasy  bosom. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  387 

Riding  between  their  grouped  escort,  resting  their 
horses  changing  from  the  "lope"  to  a  shuffling  walk, 
the  engineer  began :  "  I  will  ask  you  to  hear  all  I  have 
to  say  in  silence,  and  think  the  situation  over  before 
you  decide.  I  will  try  and  spare  you  any  pain,  but, 
dear  old  boy,  I  do  beg  for  your  patience.  I  will  indi- 
cate to  you  what  your  father  can  explain.  I  have  here 
letters  from  my  uncle,  from  Senator  Steele,  and  a  con- 
fidential one  from  his  wife.  There  has  arisen  a  serious 
juncture  in  my  uncle's  railroad  and  partnership  affairs 
with  your  father.  It  means  to  me  a  change  of  my 
future.  It  may  mean  to  you  the  loss  of  fortune.  It 
might  estrange  me  from  your  father  and,"  his  voice 
vibrated  in  emotion,  "it  might  lose  me  your  sister 
Katie's  hand,  not  her  love:  of  that,  thank  God,  I  am 
sure!" 

Manson  was  gazing  at  the  bright  stars  which  Katie 
and  he  had  loved  to  watch  together.  They  spoke  to 
him  of  her.  The  very  night-breeze  seemed  to  echo 
her  voice. 

"There  has  been  a  disclosure — a  revelation — serious 
charges  about  some  matters  implicating  your  father !  " 

Leavenworth  reined  his  horse  across  the  road. 

"Hold  on,  Jim!  For  God's  sake, be  patient!"  Jack's 
voice  was  solemn.  "You  don't  know  what  you  may 
do  if  you  give  way  to  feeling.  Chisholm  has  fled  to 
Europe,  by  Havana.  Steele  is  in  the  agony  of  despair. 
He  is  asked  to  clearly  show  his  whole  connection  with 
these  operations  to  the  President.  He  is  frantic  with 
anxieties.  Someone  is  dealing  giant  blows  right  and 
left!  I  know  not  whom  they  are  aimed  at.  They 
reach  your  father,  our  railroad,  all  our  plans.  Uncle 
Mark  is  determined.  I  have  an  ultimatum  from  him. 
It  is  one  your  father  'will  not  accept!  Only  you  and  I, 
with  your  mother  and  sisters'  aid,  can  prevent  a  final 


388  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

rupture.  Steele  has  shown  the  white  feather.  He  has 
his  private  and  political  short-comings  to  conceal  from 
the  President,  who  is  aroused  and  demands  a  clearing 
up  of  all.  Steele  has  thrown  all  his  property  interests 
into  my  uncle's  hands.  No.  4 — the  silent  partner — has 
formally  drawn  out.  Chisholm  had  his  power  of 
attorney — a  proxy.  He  is  silent — vanished.  The  books 
have  been  removed." 

Jimmy  Leavenworth  dropped  the  reins  of  his  horse. 
"Trouble  I  do  not  mind,  but  disgrace,  dishonor,  I'll 
not  live  to  see  it.  It  means  that  Gertrude  Marshall 
will  never  place  her  hand  in  mine!" 

"  Listen,  my  brother!"  cried  Manson.  "  We  must 
fight,  you  and  I,  for  Life  and  Love,  as  we  have,  and 
that  too,  shoulder  to  shoulder.  The  only  one  who  is 
cool  is  the  senator's  wife.  In  this  strange  muddle  she 
seems  to  know  more  than  anyone — to  be  able  to  point 
a  way  out,  and  to  divine  the  black-hearted  scoundrel 
who  works  to  rob  you  and  I  of  the  women  we  love,  as 
well  as  to  overwhelm  your  father." 

"  It's  Maxan ! "  shouted  Jimmy,  his  voice  trembling  in 
rage. 

"  You  are  right,"  gravely  said  Jack,  « and  from 
what  corner  of  safety  does  he  strike  back  at  us?  But 
listen !  I  will  not  hold  the  truth  back.  I  had  made 
my  mind  up  to  telegraph  my  uncle  that  I  threw  up  my 
trust.  But  I  must  go  on.  I  will  help  you.  It  only 
places  me  where  I  would  be  cowardly  to  press  for 
your  sister's  hand.  I  lived  to  win  it  like  a  man — not 
to  ask  a  daughter's  sacrifice.  I'll  tell  you  all ;  and  you, 
your  mother  and  sisters,  and  Tom  Bayard  must  tell  me 
what  to  do.  But,  I  leave  Texas — and — alone!" 

"Go  on,  quick!"  said  Jimmy.  "We  must  ride 
ahead." 

"  My  uncle,  you  see,  has  the  controlling  power  now 


FOR   LIFE    AND   LOVE.  389 

as  well  as  responsibility.  His  orders  to  me  are  to 
demand  the  whole  franchise  to  be  assigned  to  him, 
to  take  the  joint  ranches  and  stock  into  my  name  as 
trustee,  and  to  singly  assume  the  entire  charge  of  the 
railroad.  He  demands  that  your  father  retire  from  the 
open  control  of  the  Texan  operations,  or  he  will  cease 
sending  funds,  and  the  result  will  be  failure  and  further 
exposure." 

"Exposure  of  what?"  hoarsely  cried  the  young 
Texan. 

"  Of  various  alleged  operations,  of  a  nefarious  char- 
acter, directed  here  on  the  border  by  your  father  and 
certain  unknown  associates.  My  uncle  says  that  with 
this  clear  turn-over,  Steele,  secure  in  his  financial,  sup- 
port, can  stop  off  all  further  investigation,  save  your 
father,  clear  his  own  record,  and  the  properties  and 
enterprises  can  be  saved  from  utter  ruin." 

"  My  father  will  never  consent !  He  will  never  yield 
underpressure!  He  will  die  first!  It  is  horrible !"  said 
Leavenworth.  "  It  means  ruin  and  heartbreak  to  us 
all!" 

"And  you,  what  do  you  propose  to  do?"  said  the 
Texan. 

"I  propose,"  said  Jack  slowly,  "that  the  property 
referred  to  be  transferred  to  you  on  the  ground  of  your 
father's  multitude  of  cares  and  business.  That  the 
railroad  charter  be  turned  over  (as  far  as  your  father's 
interest  goes)  to  Col.  Tom  Bayard,  as  trustee,  and 
thus  your  family  interests  be  saved.  Uncle  Mark  has 
written  your  father,  Steele  has  written  him  privately, 
and  that  wonderful  woman  has  sent  me  a  letter  under 
the  seal  of  a  man's  honor.  It  may  help  to  save,  but  I 
can  never  tell  its  contents.  But  how  to  make  your 
father  consent?  How  I  can  handle  Mark  Manson? 
JEven  the  senator's  wife  has  imposed  on  his  suspicious 


390  FOR  LIFE  AXD  LOVE. 

mind,  and  I  can  use  the  telegraph  to  her  about  this! 
Now,  let  us  ride  on,  and  when  we  have  the  journey  under 
control,  give  me  your  views.  If  you  and  I  should  sepa- 
rate, should  quarrel,  Jim,  it  would  only  add  a  last  pang 
to  the  bitterness  of  my  departure.  We  can  talk  now,  but 
once  at  the  Rancho,  if  we  lose  our  community  of  heart, 
and  all  is  over." 

"What  do  you  mean  by  your  departure?  "  said  Jimmy 
Leavenworth. 

"  I  will  not  do  Mark  Manson's  bidding.  He  can 
select  some  other  agent.  I  shall  turn  down  the  golden 
pages  of  my  life  and  seek  the  Western  plains  once 
more!"  Jack's  voice  rang  as  hard  as  the  flints  under 
his  charger's  feet. 

"  And  Katie?"  said  the  suffering  young  ranchero. 

"Do  you  think  she  would  ever  listen  to  the  name  of 
Manson  again,  when  Mark's  cold  measures  have  forced 
your  unyielding  father  into  a  bitter  contest,  ending  only 
in  the  family  ruin?  You  do  not  know  her  pride^ 
Jimmy."  Manson  was  hopeless. 

"And  you  do  not  know  her  heart!"  said  Katie's 
brother,  as  he  spurred  his  horse  onward.  "  Let  us 
hasten  forward." 

Grim  care  rode  behind  the  two  gallant  horsemen, 
and  in  the  early  gray  of  the  dawn  the  friends  looked 
haggard,  as  the  sun  showed  them,  two  hours'  ride  away, 
the  groves  where  Katie  Leavenworth's  graceful  head 
reposed  on  a  pillow  the  night  before  wet  with  bitterest 
tears.  For  her  father's  voice  had  been  raised  in  the 
sternest  malediction,  and  the  old  ranchero  was  ready 
to  meet  the  wary  capitalist  in  the  struggle  of  greed 
and  craft. 

"  Have  you  anything  to  say  ?  What  shall  I  do  ?  " 
said  Manson,  with  sympathy,  as  he  entered  the  mansion. 

"  Let  me  confer  alone  with  Tom  Bayard.     Let  me 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  39! 

also  talk  \vith  the  ones  who  are  clear  to  us  both."  Jack 
Manson,  glad  of  a  pretext,  sought  his  room,  and  slept 
till  the  sun  was  streaming  in  through  the  western 
windows. 

His  comrade,  with  delicacy,  had  stationed  the  colored 
boy  to  await  his  young  master's  bidding.  As  Jack 
opened  his  eyes,  the  valet  gave  him  a  little  twisted 
note.  It  was  in  Jimmy's  wrriting. 

I  have  had  an  hour  with  Bayard.  I  am  now  going  to  have  a 
long  conference  with  father  in  the  Den.  It  seems  to  me  that  my 
mother  is  the  only  one  who  can  draw  from  father  every  detail  of 
his  cares.  If  she  expresses  a  wish  to  permanently  leave  this 
exposed  rancho,  and  Katie  knows  your  wishes,  he  may  be  led  to 
consent.  But  if  you  or  I  have  to  propose  it  to  him,  we  will  be  both 
thwarted  in  our  dearest  aims.  See  Katie.  You  will  find  her  in 
the  garden!  I  only  ask  that  you  will  not  telegraph  or  write  Mark 
Manson  until  our  plan  has  been  tested.  After  that,  should  it 
fail,  I  do  not  care  what  happens.  I  might  as  well  go  West  with 
you.  But  we  must  avoid  each  other.  Mother  alone  can  make 
the  proposition  come  from  him  so  as  to  save  his  pride. 

Jack  read  over  the  letters  of  the  night  before  as  he 
drank  a  cup  of  coffee  and  broke  a  roll. 

"  Strange !  "  he  murmured.  "  Steele  held  his  head 
high  until  trouble  came.  His  wife  now  is  the  better 
man!  Old  Silas  has  been  an  autocrat.  His  gentle, 
patient  wife  and  unworldly  daughter  alone  can  save  him 
now.  Chisholm,  Jimmy  tells  me,  has  left  the  protec- 
tion of  his  vast  interests  to  his  wife,  while  he  flees.  And 
from  this  letter  of  Milly  Steele's,  it  is  to  her  alone  must 
be  given  the  task  of  swaying  stubborn  Mark  Manson, 
merciless  in  business  diplomacy.  Are  the  strong  weak 
or  the  weak  strong?  How  few  of  the  intrigues  of  life 
\vhich  are  not  guided  by  ivoman  after  all!  The  subtle, 
far-reaching,  penetrating  femininity  of  the  modern 
•woman  guides  the  hidden  destinies  of  man  and  things." 


392 


FOR   LIFE    AND   LOVE, 


"  She  is  a  gallant  nature!"    Jack  admiringly  said,  as 
he  read  again  Milly  Steele's  letters : 

Telegraph  me  to  the  address  I  gave.  I  will  go  to  New  York 
and  occupy  your  uncle's  mind.  I  know  No.  4  and  his  status  in 
this  hidden  tangle.  I  know  why  Ramon  Maxan  has  dealt  this 
blow.  Your  uncle  knows  nothing  of  this.  Now,  I  am  with  you 
to  the  last  in  our  common  cause.  Steele  is  distracted.  You 
alone  can  guide  the  Texan  matters  to  save  all  interests.  I  can 
delay  and  placate  here.  But  if  any  more  fall  away,  the  whole 
system  falls  inert.  Each  scampering  away  to  save  himself! 
Chisholm,  to  save  himself,  has  secreted  all  damaging  accounts 
and  papers!  Maxan  is  now  an  outlaw!  His  blow  has  been 
delivered;  he  can  not  strike  again.  Would  to  God  some  friendly 
bullet  would  relieve  us  of  him!  It  is  the  whole  future  of  Leaven- 
worth,  his  children,  and  those  projected  marriages  which  hang  on 
your  prudence  and  steadiness  now.  Be  patient,  prudent,  and 
calm  the  storm.  Think  of  me!  It  is  my  very  existence  which  is 
at  staks!  The  war  shadowed  Northern  homes,  but  it  swept  the 
whole  social  fabric  away  from  under  the  feet  of  Southern  women. 
Husbands,  lovers,  brothers,  friends,  homes,  property,  and  all 
went  down  in  the  red  wreck!  One  generation  obliterated,  and 
every  tie  that  binds  sundered!  I  deemed  myself  safe,  secure  in 
a  future,  and  if  I  am  saved,  it  is  to  you  (the  man  I  could  have 
loved)  I  will  owe  the  sheet-anchor  of  my  tempest-tossed  bark  of 
life!  Death  is  nothing  to  me.  But  I  am  too  proud  to  submit  to 
penury,  obscurity,  lonely  age,  and  a  future  of  vain  adventure! 
For  if  Steele  is  a  broken  man,  my  last  chance  is  gone!  I  will 
not  have  it!  He  must  go  down  with  his  flag  flying  in  honor!  I 
have  always  craved  peace,  quiet,  a  home,  and  all  that  the  sad 
war  robbed  me  of  when  I  was  young  and  helpless.  I  have 
stumbled  along  life's  path,  been  driven  atong  by  its  storms,  and 
I  will  owe  it  to  you  if  I  am  spared  being  driven  yet  to  the  expe- 
dients which  wreck  women  in  body  and  soul!  Steele  has  sacri- 
ficed all  to  maintain  senatorial  and  political  position.  Without 
capital,  if  he  loses  prestige,  and  this  crash  throws  all  into  Mark 
Manson's  hands,  I  am  simply  offered  up  on  the  altar  of  Fate! 
My  hopes,  my  fears,  my  heart  are  with  you!  Ah,  God!  how  I 
could  have  loved  a  man  like  you,  had  I  had  a  fair  chance  in  life! 
For  you,  I  prophesy  all  I  would  have  died  for!  Life  with  the 
one  your  heart  has  chosen!  Love  met  with  Love!  Life  and 


FOR   LIFE   AND   LOVE.  393 

Love!  Be  it  your  prize!  For  you  battle  now  "for  Life  and 
Love ! "  Think  of  these  words  !  My  very  soul  goes  out  to  you  ! 
You  are  our  savior  or  our  destroyer  J 


"Poor  woman!"  sighed  Jack,  as  he  dispatched  his 
man  to  report  the  whereabouts  of  the  family  circle. 
"  From  the  dark  depths  of  her  nature,  the  home  of  black 
shadows,  the  white  aspiring  peaks  of  noble  impulse 
rise  toward  God,  robed  in  purity.  Mysterious  double 
nature  of  woman!  At  once  the  toy  and  plaything  of 
man;  slave  and  goddess;  the  hunter  and  the  hunted; 
her  fevered  dream  of  what  might  have  been  will  only 
cease  when  grim  Death  seals  her  pallid  lips  with  his 
unreturned  kiss  of  icy  power! 

"  And  am  I  then  the  arbiter  of  others'  fortunes  ?  7, 
who  can  not  shape  my  own  destiny  ?  "  He  walked 
down  the  stair  and  sought  the  one  fair  woman  of  the 
world  to  him,  who  waited  for  her  anxious  lover  among 
her  friendly  roses.  It  needed  not  the  thrilling  shade  of 
sorrow,  tingeing  her  dear  eyes  a  deeper  blue,  to  tell  him 
that  she  had  shared  her  proud  brother's  burden  of  sor- 
row. He  saw  her  standing,  with  graceful,  drooping 
shoulders,  her  fair  hands  clasped,  and  her  delicate  cheek 
pale  with  the  ashes  of  its  own  roses.  Her  head  was 
bowed.  She  was  no  longer  the  mutinous  little  beauty 
of  San  Miguel.  On  her  fair  brow  the  lines  of  woman- 
hood's cares  were  traced.  "  Child,  child  no  more."  A 
loving  woman  battling  for  her  own  heart  empire.  It 
needed  but  a  glance  to  tell  her  lover  that  she  knew  all. 
It  was  even  so.  James  Leavenworth's  heart  was  heavy 
for  the  sake  of  the  Greek-browed  darling  of  Arundel 
House.  The  gallant  plainsman  feared  the  calm  glance 
of  Gertrude's  mother — the  woman  who  had  faced 
poverty  and  adversity  with  the  unbroken  courage  of  her 


394  FOR  LIFE  AND  LOVE. 

Jack  Manson  drew  the  gentle  girl  to  a  seat  in  the 
covert  bower.  "You  know  of  all  our  trouble,  darling  ? " 
He  spoke  in  pain,  for  even  words  seemed  to  be  denied 
him.  In  a  moment  she  was  sobbing  on  his  breast. 
The  dear  head  resting  on  his  bosom  chased  away  his 
stoic  mood. 

"  It  is  you  alone  who  can  save  us  all.  No  one 
else  dares  to  brave  your  father  in  his  wrath.  I  can  find 
burdens  in  life  too  heavy  for  me.  I  will  not  be  made 
the  instrument  of  his  humiliation,  the  bearer  of  a  cold 
threat.  I  fear  your  father  not!  I  fear  my  uncle  less! 
But,  with  my  hands  tied,  with  duty  and  honor  on  the 
one  side  and  my  heaven  on  earth  imperilled,  if  I  lose 
you,  I  can  not  act.  You  must  seek  your  mother.  She 
alone  has  a  right  to  the  truth,  and  I  will  leave  the  field 
free  then  for  Bayard  and  your  brother  to  guard  the 
fortunes  of  the  women  who  will  be  tied  to  them  by  a 
happier  fortune  than  my  own.  Jimmy  has  told  you 
all?"  he  queried. 

"All  he  knows.  More  than  you  fear,"  she  whispered. 
"My  mother  is  with  father  now!  Alice  and  Jimmy  have 
gone  away  with  Bayard  to  leave  them  free." 

"  Then  you  must  act  at  once,  my  poor  darling.  From 
this  moment,  look  only  at  this  fair  home  and  the  debt  of 
nature  you  owe  here.  I  must  act  to-day  decisively,  and 
I  will  wait  for  your  victory  or  defeat.  But  leave  here, 
I  must.  I  will  only  wait  to  aid  you  as  far  as  I  can." 

"You  mean  that  you  will  leave  Texas?"  the  loving 
woman  cried,  springing  to  her  feet. 

She  never  looked  as  beautiful  even  when  hope  led 
them  on  together  under  summer  skies!  A  flash  of  sap- 
phire light  lit  up  the  blue  eyes  fixed  on  her  lover. 

He  bowed  his  head.  "  I  shall  not  care  for  fortune.  I 
shall  not  follow  the  call  of  ambition,  for  all  the  paths  I 
cared  to  tread  in  life  led  me  only  to  you!  Now,  I  only 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  30,5 

care  to  go  away.  The  farther  from  Sun  Miguel,  the 
easier  it  will  be  to  walk  alone." 

There  was  a  strange  light  in  the  eyes  of  the  Texan 
heiress  as  she  said:  "And  you  would  give  me  up?" 

Her  voice  trembled,  brave-hearted  as  she  was. 

"How  could  I  demand  your  hand  of  your  father  as 
the  price  of  my  betrayal  of  my  uncle's  cold,  egoistic 
money  policy?  If  it  is  enforced  I  will  be  your  father's 
bitter  enemy.  You  know  how  he  hates." 

"  I  do,"  said  Katie,  with  flashing  eyes.  "  I  know, 
too,  how  he  loves.  He  hates  and  loves  as  I  do,  with 
all  the  heart's  intensity !"  Her  bosom  was  heaving  and 
her  fearless  brow  was  bright  in  the  sunlight  stealing 
through  her  roses  and  lingering  around  the  beloved 
one.  She  cast  one  glance  around  at  the  princely 
domain,  as  she  stepped  out  of  the  bower.  Manson  sat, 
his  head  bowed  on  his  hands.  He  asked  not  for  pity. 
He  saw  no  escape  from  his  duty  or  an  immediate 
departure.  There  was  an  answer  due  the  waiting 
Croesus,  whose  treasured  millions  were  now  imperilled 
in  the  railroad. 

She  stepped  back  swiftly  as  a  springing  fawn. 
"Wait  here!  I  will  send  Jimmy  to  take  you  riding 
while  I  am  busied."  Her  light  head  rested  on  his 
shoulder. 

"  Where  do  you  go?  "  he  said,  as  he  lifted  his  weary 
head. 

"  To  my  father,"  she  quietly  answered. 

He  saw  that  in  her  face  which  made  his  heart  leap  up 
in  wild  joy.  There  was  a  dreamy  look  in  her  eyes  as 
she  stood  at  the  gate  of  her  own  paradise. 

"  It  will  be  hard  to  leave  all  this,  the  dear  old  home," 
she  said,  as  her  reluctant  feet  lingered  on  the  threshold. 
"  Yet  it  must  come!" 

"  Katie,  what  are  you  saying?     Are  you  dreaming? 


396  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVL. 

Do  you  not  see  the  gulf  between  the  frontier  king's 
daughter  and  a  wandering  engineer?  " 

"  It  means,"  she  said,  softly  speaking,  as  if  indeed  in 
a  dream,  as  if  timing  her  words  by  each  throb  of  her 
heart,  "  that  I  will  not  give  you  up!"  Raising  her  eyes 
she  met  those  of  her  wondering  lover.  "If  you  go  out 
into  the  world,  wherever  you  go,  you  will  find  me  by 
your  side!  Will  you  have  me,  Jack?"  she  said,  the 
tears  shading  her  lovely  eyes.  "  Our  compact  was  until 
death, '  for  Life  and  Love '!" 

The  beautiful  woman  looked  lip  smiling  faintly  from 
his  breast  as  he  caught  her  in  his  arms.  "  You 
promised  me  to  be  a  Texan,  Jack.  A  true  Texan. 
They  are  all  brave  and — generous!  Do  not  make 
me  tell  you  more.  Do  not  lead  me  on  to  say  I  love  you 
enough  to  go  out  into  the  world  hand  in  hand  with  you." 
She  was  smiling  now  through  her  tears.  "  If  I  do  not 
win  my  point,  then  poor  father's  heart  has  changed 
toward  me.  Listen,  my  Jack!  One  thing  you  have 
not  thought  of.  Father  has  not  met  Mark  Manson  for 
years.  Now  I  know  that  some  of  these  troubles  come 
from  this  New  Orleans  banker  going  away.  If  we  can 
persuade  father  to  go  at  once  to  New  Orleans,  it  will 
give  him  a  chance  to  arrange  matters  there  and  learn 
all  things  now  hidden  or  in  doubt.  He  can  take  his 
lawyer.  Then,  if  we  persuade  him  that  by  going  on  to 
New  York  and  acting  with  your  uncle, that  he  can  save 
all  his  Government  business  and  his  interrupted  con- 
tracts, he  will  go  certainly.  There,  at  New  York,  your 
uncle  and  my  father  can  agree  on  all.  Brother  Jimmy 
tells  me  that  Mr.  Manson  has  all  the  other  interests  in 
his  hands,  and  Senator  Steele's  and  this  Mr.  Chisholm's, 
too.  Can  you  not  see  there  are  only  ttco  great  interests 
left  now  in  the  whole  thing — the  Manson  and  Leaven- 
worth?" 


FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE.  397 

Jack  gazed  at  the  little  financier  in  open-eyed  aston- 
ishment. Katie  was  standing  now  ready  to  brave  the 
old  ranchero. 

"  We  will  tell  my  father  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that 
mother  goes  with  him,  as  he  may  have  to  stay  six 
months,  and,  therefore,  he  must  put  the  railroad  matters 
all  in  Jimmy's  hands.  As  Alice  is  all  ready  to  marry 
Bayard  he  will  give  him  the  control  of  the  ranch.  Now 
this  will  satisfy  your  uncle.  We  can  persuade  father 
to  leave  it  so.  And,  face  to  face,  that  quarrel  will 
disappear  when  these  two  old  men  are  together,  espe- 
cially if — if  you  write  your  uncle.  It  is  only  a  fight 
between  Love  and  Hate.  Love  will  win!  You  must 
write  him  to-day ! " 

"Write  him  what?"  said  Jack  Manson,  who  was 
dazed  with  happiness  at  seeing  a  way  out. 

"Why,  that  we  ai*e  to  be  married, you  and  I;  he  can 
then  trust  my  father,  can  he  not?  " 

Jack  Manson's  outstretched  arms  caught  only  empty 
air,  for  the  graceful  girl  had  already  reached  the  gar- 
den gate,  in  flight,  to  hide  the  burning  blushes  on  the 
cheeks  so  lately  pale  with  the  shadowed  cares  of  the 
upheaval.  She  smiled  at  his  discomfiture  and  disap- 
peared. 

"  I  am  only  a  stupid  blunderer,"  thought  Manson,  as 
he  caught  his  breath.  "  Katie  is  an  angel!  She  would 
make  a  world-famous  bank-president;  but,"  he  nodded 
confidentially  to  the  roses,  "  she  will  make  a  peerless 
wife!  The  brave  darling!"  He  walked  up  the  path 
to  meet  her  brother,  who  led  him  far  out  on  the  ozone- 
breathing  prairie  in  a  grand,  swinging  gallop. 
.  "  I  will  wager  my  head,  Jack,"  said  the  Texan,  « that 
Katie  will  have  her  way !  She  always  -wins  !  Let  us  wait 
on  her  now.  I  have  a  rider  waiting  to  take  your  mes- 
sage. Do  you  wish  to  use  the  telegraph?" 


390  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"Yes!"  said  Manson.  "I  will  stake  my  future 
on  Katie's  faith  in  her  powers  to  bring  your  father  into 
the  only  position  safe  for  him  and  our  whole  circle.  I 
will  telegraph  Uncle  Mark,  'All  will  be  arranged  in  a 
few  days  as  you  wish.  Your  partner  probably  coming 
to  you  at  New  York  at  once.  I  will  represent  you 
both  in  road.  Answer,  if  satisfactory.  All  quiet  here 
now.' " 

"  That's  right,  Jack,"  said  Leaven  worth ;  "  it  does  not 
bind  us  all  down.  Now,  my  mother  tells  me  that  she  has 
won  him  over  to  agree  to  Bayard's  immediate  marriage 
with  Alice,  and  to  give  them  the  general  ranch  control 
for  the  present.  We  will  wait  for  Katie  now.  Let  us 
drop  the  whole  thing  till  she  has  used  her  power." 

The  shadows  were  softly  draping  grove  and  hill  as 
the  two  friends  rode  in  and  unostentatiously  joined  the 
circle  at  dinner.  Few  words  were  exchanged,  but  there 
was  an  infinite  promise  of  victory  in  Katie's  eyes,  shin- 
ing with  happiness.  Mrs.  Leavenworth  and  Alice 
turned  with  glowing  faces  toward  the  young  men  as 
Silas  Leavenworth,  after  a  silent  dinner,  spoke  to  Man- 
son. 

"  If  you  have  dispatches  to  send,  I  am  sending  a  man 
down  to  Corpus  Christi.  By  the  way,  I  have  to  go 
over  to  New  Orleans  and  may  go  on  at  once  to  New 
York.  You  might  mention  that  to  your  uncle.  I  will 
dispatch  to  him  fully  to-morrow  from  Corpus  Christi." 

Jack  Manson  managed  to  control  his  tell-tale  face, 
for  he  knew  that  Katie  had  won  the  victory!  He 
glanced  at  the  little  diplomate.  She  was  looking  straight 
to  the  front;  her  cheek  was  pale,  and  her  lover  saw  the 
hand  he  had  covered  with  kisses  trembling  as  the  old 
autocrat  spoke. 

"  I  would  like  to  see  you  in  the  office  an  hour 
to-night,  as  I  go  down  to-morrow  evening,"  continued 


FOR    LfFE    AND   LOVE.  399 

Silas,  addressing  Manson.  "I  shall  be  away  for  some 
months." 

"  Most  certainly,  sir,"  said  Jack,  bowing.  "  When 
do  you  go  North?" 

"  I  will  wait  a  few  days  at  Corpus  Christ!  for  Mrs. 
Leavenworth,"  said  the  frontier  king,  "  and  then  go 
over  by  New  Orleans.  As  soon  as  I  have  done  there, 
we  will  go  on  to  Washington  and  New  York.  I  have 
a  vast  amount  of  business  at  the  departments,  and  I 
shall  take  Nordenskiold  up  with  me." 

Manson  actually  blushed,  as  he  saw  that  the  resolute 
Katie  had  "carried  all  the  works  in  front  of  her!" 

Silas  Leavenworth's  haggard  face  and  tired  eyes  told 
of  a  mental  struggle  of  no  ordinary  intensity.  Noticing 
Jack  Manson's  preoccupation,  he  said:  "Your  affairs 
will  not  be  interrupted  at  all.  I  shall  leave  my  son  in 
full  control  of  the  railroad  matters  and  all  my  freighting 
and  steamboat  affairs.  Colonel  Bayard  will  manage 
the  ranch  and  house  business." 

The  engineer  well  knew  the  reason  of  the  sudden 
rosy  flush  which  made  St.  Cecilia  Alice  a  glowing  pict- 
ure, as  all  eyes  were  turned  upon  her  and  the  bronzed 
Confederate  veteran,  who  actually  looked  sheepish. 

The  graceful  author  of  these  remarkable  plans  glided 
gently  from  the  room,  as  Silas  led  his  wife  toward  her 
favorite  evening  seat  upon  the  portico. 

Lightly  as  she  moved  over  the  dewy  grass,  her 
lover's  swift  strides  overtook  her  before  she  reached 
the  mansion. 

"Did  you  speak  to  your  father,  Katie,  for  me?" 
Manson  was  eager  and  excited  at  his  darling's  wonder- 
ful success. 

"About  what.  "  said  the  fleeing  maiden. 

"About  our  own  affairs — about  our  marriage  !  "  stam- 
mered Jack.  She  was  another  woman  than  the  clinging 


4oo 


FOR    LIFE    AXD   LOVE. 


sweet  one  of  the  afternoon!  Katie  never  turned  her 
head  as  she  neared  the  porch,  but  calmly  said: 

"  I  have  spoken  once  to-day  for  you ;  I  think  you 
had  better  ask  for  me  yourself,  Jack!" 

The  lover  paused.  Her  tenderness  had  vanished 
with  the  far-blown  cloud  of  trouble. 

"  Ah !  I  see ! "  muttered  Manson.  "  Katie  does  need 
discipline  after  all!"  But  as  he  watched  her  brave, 
delicate  face  turned  toward  the  matchless  skies  of  even- 
ing, he  could  have  knelt  before  her  and  adored  the 
unconquered  spirit,  the  bright  wit,  and  womanly  forti- 
tude of  the  ranchero's  daughter! 

"  I  would  not  have  a  feature  or  a  thought  changed, 
were  she  to  mount  the  throne  as  a  queen!" 

This  was  simply  personal  enthusiasm !  But  when  he 
realized  that  his  strongest  card  was  the  announcement 
to  his  uncle  of  this  projected  marriage,  at  once  a  guar- 
antee and  a  safeguard,  he  realized  that  he  must  deal 
with  stern  old  Silas  at  once.  He  had  seen  the  messen- 
ger dash  away  with  his  dispatch.  Leavenworth  was  to 
leave  the  rancho  in  the  morning.  He  might  not  return 
for  months.  Would  it  be  safe  to  imperil  the  whole 
settlement  and  union  of  interests?  No!  a  few  untoward 
words  between  the  wary  millionaires  might  end  all  his 
hopes! 

So  it  was  that  after  he  closed  the  tedious  hour  of 
business  in  the  "  Den  "  with  the  frontier  king,  he  had  to 
face  his  duty,  for  when  he  returned  to  the  parlors  he 
knew  that  Bayard  and  Alice  were  to  be  married  at 
once.  Whether  at  Corpus  Christi  or  the  rancho  he 
knew  not,  but  a  sight  of  gallant  Tom  Bayard  plead- 
ing with  Alice  at  the  farthest  end  of  the  stately  portico, 
told  him  that  Mrs.  Leavenworth  would  not  sail  for  New 
Orleans  till  Alice,  as  a  budding  young  matron,  could 
replace  the  gentle  mother,  whose  husband  had  practi- 
cally "  abdicated  "  in  favor  of  his  son. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  40! 

Both  the  lady  of  San  Miguel  and  her  son  looked 
inquiringly  at  the  two  men  as  they  entered.  There  was 
a  shade  of  disappointment  on  Mary  Leavenworth's  face. 
Miss  Katie  was  seated,  gazing  a.  mlessly  out  into  the 
starlit  night.  A  Partnian  glance  from  those  eyes 
roused  Manson  to  a  sudden  decision! 

As  Silas  Leavenworth  rose  to  follow  his  wife  to  her 
special  haunt  in  the  great  room,  which,  by  general  con- 
sent, was  named  "  mother's  headquarters,"  the  scene  of 
her  quiet  labors  in  the  long  absence  of  her  husband, 
Jack  Manson  rose  respectfully.  There  was  a  grim 
resolve  in  his  formal  manner,  as,  observing  Miss 
Katie  Leavenworth  about  to  save  herself  by  flight,  he 
said  quickly,  addressing  the  parents: 

"  Will  you  pardon  me  a  moment?  I  have  something 
important  to  say  to  you.  Pray  don't  go,  Miss  Leaven- 
worth," he  added,  with  a  glance  of  agonizing  appeal. 
Miss  Katie  sank  into  her  chair,  perfectly  unconcerned, 
and  folded  her  pretty  hands.  "  You  are  about  to  leave 
the  State  for  a  long  period,  Mr.  Leavenworth.  I  could 
not  see  you  and  Mrs.  Leavenworth  go,  leaving  me  here 
as  a  guest  in  your  family,  without  telling  you  that  I 
love  your  daughter  Katie,  and  beg  your  consent  to  our 
marriage." 

Jimmy  Leavenworth  sprang  to  his  sister's  side,  for 
the  dauntless  Katie  covered  her  eyes  with  her  hands. 

"  What !  Both  my  girls  I "  said  Silas,  as  he  dropped 
speechless  into  the  nearest  chair. 

The  frontier  king's  nerve  was  evidently  shaken  by 
his  vigils.  Mrs.  Leavenworth  walked  gently  to  her 
daughter's  side  and  stooped  down  to  kiss  her.  The 
mother's  kindly  eyes  beamed  on  Jack  Manson,  whose 
heart  was  thrilled  in  the  suspense  of  the  moment. 

"  What  do  you  say,  Katie  ? "  slowly  said  old  Silas,  as 
the  graceful  maiden  stole  to  his  side. 


4O2  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

By  an  impulse,  Jack  Manson  joined  her.  The 
ranchero  fixed  his  eyes  on  his  daughter,  who  returned 
with  her  frank  fearlessness,  his  steady  gaze. 

"  For  Life  and  Love  ! "  she  said,  as  she  placed  her 
hand  in  Jack's. 

"And  when  did  you  propose  to  be  married?"  said 
Silas,  who  had  caught  a  telegraphic  verdict  from  his 
gentle  wife's  approving  smile. 

"  When  Colonel  Bayard  and  Alice  are  married,"  said 
Manson,  innocently,  and  suddenly  realized  that  Miss 
Katie  Leavenworth  had  transfixed  him  with  one  awful 
stony  glare  ! 

There  was  a  silence.  Brother  Jimmy  was  on  the 
verge  of  laughter,  when  Silas  completed  his  son's  dis- 
comfiture by  saying  quietly: 

"  Well,  thank  God,  we  do  not  lose  anyone  if  you  do 
settle  at  the  ranch."  The  frontier  king  rose,  and  taking 
their  hands,  said:  "  You  saved  her  life?  Watch  over 
her,  my  son  !  She  has  always  been  the  apple  of  my 
eye!" 

In  the  open  doorway  Colonel  Thomas  Bayard  was 
standing,  towering  over  Alice  Leavenworth,  at  that 
moment  the  very  happiest  woman  in  Texas,  when 
James  Leavenworth  resolutely  approached  his  father. 

"  May  /say  one  word,  sir? " 

"  Is  it  about  this  marriage?"  said  Silas  sharply,  turn- 
ing on  his  heel.  "  I  have  settled  it.  I  suppose  I  might 
have  seen  the  '  signs  of  the  times'  before,  if  I  had  been 
watchful.  Everyone  else  seems  to  have  been  posted," 
remarked  the  ranchero  dryly,  scanning  his  resolute 
son's  face. 

All  could  see,  however,  that  Silas  was  not  seriously 
offended  at  Katie's  spirited  avowal. 

"Not  about  this  marriage;  another  one"  said  James 
Leavenworth,  caballero  and  plainsman,  looking  his 
astonished  father  pleasantly  in  the  face. 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.       .  403 

"  Well,  I  thought  Bayard  and  Alice  were  in  thorough 
accord.  Your  mother  told  me  they  would  come  in  and 
be  married  at  Corpus  Christi  before  we  sail ! " 

"We  intend  to!"  was  a  smiling  answer  in  happy 
chorus  from  the  gallant  Confederate  and  his  promised 
bride. 

"  Well,  then,  whose  marriage  is  it?  "  said  Silas  Leav- 
en worth  decisively. 

"Mine!"  remarked  the  young  Texan,  with  a  quiet 
glance  at  his  mother. 

"  Jimmy ,  also /"said  Silas,  and,  fairly  overwhelmed, 
he  gazed  appealingly  from  one  to  the  other  of  the  two 
happy  couples  who  smilingly  watched  Mr.  James 
Leavenworth  adroitly  sailing  on  a  flood-tide  of  good 
feeling. 

"  As  the  lady  is  not  present,  let  me  speak  for  her," 
said  Mary  Leavenworth,  with  a  mother's  dignity.  "It 
will  be  the  happiest  day  of  my  life  to  see  Gertrude 
Marshall  the  wife  of  my  son." 

"  She  is  so  lovely!  Such  a  noble  girl!  "  cried  both  the 
sisters  of  San  Miguel,  surrounding  their  puzzled  father. 

"  If  she  is  like  her  father,  she  will  suit  me,"  said 
Silas.  «  Come  here,  boy ! "  He  held  out  his  hand,  "  I 
see  that  you  have  your  mother  and  sisters  on  your  side. 
That  is  enough!  When  do  you  think  of  this  union?" 

"  Not  until  it  suits  your  business  situation,  and  the 
railroad  is  finished.  I  do  not  wish  to  be  away  a  moment 
while  you  need  me,  sir." 

The  thoughtful  regard  for  his  own  interests  touched 
Silas.  He  said  kindly:  "Jimmy, you've  been  a  good  boy 
to  me.  I  want  you  to  marry  next  spring.  When  you 
will  be,  if  I  live,  member  of  Congress  and  president  of 
this  railroad ;  you  can  then  hold  your  head  up  with  the 
best  of  them  at  Washington.  Thank  God!  I  have 
given  you  what  I  never  had — an  education!" 


404  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

Silas  Leavenworth,  with  a  meaning  glance  directed 
to  his  now  overjoyed  wife,  said:  "  I  presume  you 
young  people  can  find  ways  to  kill  time  without  us.  I 
wish  to  talk  these  family  changes  over."  If  ever  mortals 
realized  a  perfect  satisfaction  in  the  anticipation  of  an 
unclouded  future  it  was  the  circle  of  merry-makers  in 
the  lonely  Texan  mansion  house. 

Manson  was  sensible  of  a  slight  shadow  upon  his 
happiness.  One  or  two  chilling  remarks  by  his  promised 
bride  upon  the  subject  of  "  hasty  weddings  "  led  him 
to  believe  his  own  marriage  would  NOT  be  solemnized 
on  the  same  happy  day  as  that  of  Alice  and  Bayard. 

"  I  am  in  no  hurry,"  Miss  Katie  remarked  to  her 
sister,  in  a  tone  of  hauteur  evidently  intended  to  impress 
Jack  Manson,  "besides  I  always  dreamed  of  being  your 
bridesmaid.  We  can  wait." 

"How  long,  may  7  ask?  "humbly  questioned  Jack 
Manson,  as  he  saw  Bayard  and  Alice,  gaily  smiling  at 
his  woe-begone  face. 

"Oh,  probably  until  next  year,  until  the  railway  is 
finished;  and  it  will  be  soon  enough  when  Gertrude  is 
here  ! " 

The  demure  manner  with  which  Katie  insisted  that 
her  "  sense  of  duty  "  would  not  permit  her  to  be  married 
until  Gertrude  Marshall  had  thoroughly  won  Mrs. 
Leavenworth's  heart,  seemed  to  afford  infinite  amuse- 
ment to  all  but  Jack  Manson. 

"  You  feel  sure  that  you  are  willing  to  be  married 
sometime?"  persisted  the  Knight  of  the  Rueful  Coun- 
tenance. 

"  Most  certainly !"  calmly  answered  the  blue-eyed 
mutineer;  "but  the  day  and  date  is  by  no  means  cer- 
tain. I  must  think  of  that." 

It  was  only  alone,  when  in  the  shadows,  Jack  folded 
her  to  his  breast,  that  Katie  said :  "  The  curse  is  lifted 


FOR   LIFE    AND   LOVE.  405 

now.  When  my  father's  cases  are  ended,  when  your 
uncle  has  given  his  approval,  you  may  ask  me  to  fix 
the  day.  But,"  she  whispered,  as  he  kissed  her  a  last 
"  good-night,"  "  you  may  write  your  uncle  and  let  this 
news  precede  my  father's  arrival.  Pray  God  it  will 
bring  them  and  us  together!" 

Late  into  the  night  Jack  Manson  toiled,  with  Jimmy's 
aid,  and  covered  every  point  of  the  business  in  careful 
dispatches  to  his  uncle.  He  weighed  every  word  of  the 
announcements  of  his  proposed  marriage,  and  claimed 
the  confidence  of  the  capitalist  in  his  judgment  and  in 
the  security  of  the  alliance. 

"That's  grand!"  said  Jimmy,  as  he  read  the  last 
page.  He  had  toiled  over  letters  to  Mrs.  Marshall  and 
Gertrude  which  unbosomed  his  whole  soul  to  them. 

"  Now,  Jack,  in  order  to  have  no  possible  shadow  of 
detection  of  our  assistance  in  this  general  plan,  I'll  send 
old  Basilio  off  at  daybreak  with  these  letters  to  Corpus 
Christi.  He  can  rest  a  few  hours  at  Corpus  Christi, 
and  ride  back  before  midnight,  and  he  can  easily  avoid 
my  father  on  the  road.  He  knows  the  team  and  outfit, 
and  can  let  them  pass  him  unseen.  I  would  never  wish 
my  father  to  know  how  we  have  guided  him  unseen 
away  from  a  final  rupture  with  your  uncle.  Katie's 
fine  genius  has  found  a  way  which  is  easy,  natural,  and 
final  in  thwarting  the  bootless  revenge  of  that  villain! 
I  wonder  where  he  is  now?" 

The  young  man  walked  over  to  the  men's  camp,  and 
the  spectral  Basilio  noted  a  star  on  the  blue  heavens^ 
and  pointed  to  the  position  at  which  it  would  signal  his 
departure.  "  Ready,  aye,  ready !  "  was  the  old  scout's 
motto.  An  extra  handful  of  tobacco,  a  few  corn-husks 
for  cigarette  wrappers, 'fresh  ammunition,  and  a  box  of 
matches  were  his  only  supplies,  save  a  few  yards  of 
dried  jerked  beef  in  strings,  and  his  canteen.  He  slept 


406  FOR    LIFE    AND   LOVE. 

with  his  horse  as  a  member  of  an  adjustable  Centaur 
organization.  Basilio  and  his  steed  were  only  spoken 
of  in  the  singular  person.  In  the  saddle  a  caballero  par 
excellence,  on  foot  as  awkward  as  an  eagle  with  clipped 
wings! 

The  night  wind  moaned  around  them  cold  and  chill, 
as  they  stole  back  to  the  house.  It  was  midnight. 
Jack  Manson  experienced  a  revulsion  of  the  nerves. 
"There's  something  uncanny  about  the  hour  of  twelve 
at  night.  The  devil  has  a  brief  but  mighty  exercise  of 
power.  I  have  worn  out  my  power  of  self-control  in 
this  maze  of  anxieties.  It  almost  seems  to  me  I  am 
under  some  hideous  spell." 

"  See  here,  old  fellow,"  said  Jimmy,  as  they  stole 
upstairs.  "  Your  night  ride  and  these  uncertainties 
have  shaken  you  up.  I'll  bring  you  in  a  little  bit  of  the 
old  Henry  Clay  stock,  and  we  will  drink  to  our  brother- 
hood. Then  you  can  sleep  as  if  fanned  by  angel 
wings! " 

The  future  was  fair  before  them,  as  the  two  tried 
friends  drank  to  the  loved  ones,  who  waited,  with  rosy 
fingers  on  their  smiling  lips,  in  happier  days  for  them 
both.  There  was  bustle,  but  no  final  leave-taking  the 
next  day,  when  Silas  Leavenworth  drove  quietly  out  at 
five  o'clock.  At  Colonel  Bayard's  earnest  solicitation, 
a  private  marriage  with  Alice  would  precede  the 
departure  of  her  parents  from  Corpus  Christi. 

"  I  will  bring  the  whole  family  down  in  three  days, 
and  by  that  time  all  your  legal  papers  will  be  ready 
for  execution,"  said  the  expectant  son-in-law. 

The  rapidly  extending  railroad  was  already  at  the 
once  dangerous  canon,  and  a  gap  of  only  fifteen  miles  lay 
between  Rancho  San  Miguel  and  the  head  of  the  line 
where  five  hundred  men  were  at  work.  Disdaining 
escort,  Silas  Leavenworth  drove  away  with  only  his 


FOR   LIFE   AND  LOVE.  46? 

tried  ambulance  driver.  Lingering  over  orders  and 
directions,  the  busied  throng  hardly  noted  the  lateness 
of  the  hour.  There  was  work  for  all  in  the  hastening 
of  the  family  hegira,  and  the  wedding  of  Bayard  and 
Alice  moved  ahead  in  date  by  the  practical  "abdication" 
of  the  great  prairie  magnate.  Bayard  was  already 
receiving  the  reports,  and  while  at  ten  o'clock  the  stars 
shone  down  on  a  gay  reunion  of  the  busy  family  circle, 
Jack  Manson  sprung  to  his  feet  is  the  ranch  foreman 
rushed  into  the  great  parlors  with  a  white  face.  His 
lips  trembled,  but  one  motion  to  the  new  chief  of  the 
domain  told  the  story  of  disaster.  Bayard  looked  won- 
deringly  at  Manson  and  Jack,  who  followed  the  two 
on  the  porch. 

"  Something  wrong  with  the  stock  ?  "  said  unsuspect- 
ing Mary  Leavenworth.  "  There  is  always  unexpected 
worry!  I  am  glad  Silas  will  have  a  rest  from  it 
now." 

While  she  spoke,  her  daughters  listened  with  bated 
breath,  for  the  men  had  rushed  toward  the  great  fortress 
storehouse.  In  a  moment,  the  clang  of  the  great  alarm- 
bell  sounded  on  the  night  air.  It  had  been  rung  but  once 
since  the  war.  That  was  to  signalize  a  sudden  dash  of 
a  few  young  Comanches,  maddened  with  "  tisan  "  drink 
and  their  first  warpath.  They  were  killed  to  a  man 
almost  in  the  very  enclosure!  Now,  as  the  general 
alarm  pealed  out,  it  brought  a  score  of  house  attendants, 
armed,  around  the  frightened  women,  for  Mary  Leaven- 
worth,  her  hands  clasped,  cried:  "  It  has  come  at  last! 
My  God!  Tour  father!" 

While  the  sound  of  shouts  and  hurrying  hoofs  proved 
the  rallying  of  the  two  hundred  stout-hearted  prairie 
riders,  Bayard,  Manson,  and  Jack  Leavenworth  listened 
to  Basilio's  story.  His  trusty  horse,  staggering  to  his 
knees,  lay  dying  with  heaving  flank  and  glazing  eye. 


408  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"  I  was  astonished,"  said  the  old  scout,  "  not  to  hear 
along  the  line  that  Don  Silas  had  passed  down.  I  did 
not  dare  to  show  anxiety,  for  I  thought  he  was  only 
delayed.  When  I  left  the  end  of  the  railroad,  I  rode 
boldly  out  o  i  the  main  road,  as  I  was  sure  the  trip  had 
been  put  off  till  to-morrow,  and  I  wished  to  get  in  and 
report  your  letters.  Half-wray  between  the  railroad  and 
the  outer  ranch  fence,  in  the  little  clump  of  cotton- 
woods  we  call  'algodones,'  I  rode  on  the  remains  of  the 
team  and  ambulance.  It  had  been  overturned.  The 
horses  lay  dead  with  their  throats  cut.  There  was  no 
one  there.  Riding  around  in  a  circle,  I  found,  a  hundred 
yards  up  the  road,  the  driver  lying  dead,  filled  full  of 
Comanche  arrows.  But  no  sign  of  Senor  Silas!  On 
the  side  of  the  road,  where  the  ambulance  lay,  the  trail 
of  twenty  unshod  horses.  I  galloped  here  break-neck." 

"  Your  opinion?"  said  Bayard,  as  he  shouted  to  Bronco 
Bill  to  send  the  horses  for  the  three  to  the  portico.  A 
dozen  willing  hands  were  already  preparing  the  arms 
and  outfit  of  the  three  lovers. 

"  El  Jaguar  has  watched  the  ranch,  has  laid  in  hiding 
and  carried  off  Senor  Silas,  perhaps  for  ransom,  per- 
haps for  torture  I " 

Bayard  sprang  to  his  feet  as  a  shout  arose,  "  A  cour- 
ier !  a  courier ! "  Dashing  up  to  his  very  face,  one  of 
the  ranch  outriders  gasped  out:  "  Twenty-five  Indians 
passed  up  the  valley,  headed  toward  the  Pecos,  three 
hours  ago.  They  drove  no  stock,  but  several  pack- 
horses.  They  chased  me,  with  lances  and  arrows,  but 
my  horse  was  fresh  and  they  turned  back !" 

"  Here,  Walton,"  said  Bayard  to  the  ranch  superin- 
tendent; "do  you  move  into  the  mansion  till  we  return! 
Send  an  express  of  three  men  to  Corpus  for  Nor- 
denskiold  and  Major  Blucher  to  come  and  stay 
here.  I'll  get  supplies  from  the  nearest  ranches  and 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  409 

posts.  Send  a  dozen  men  to  examine  the  place  of  the 
attack,  and  let  three  of  them  strike  up  the  valley  on 
our  trail.  I'll  have  your  life  if  you  let  anything  hap- 
pen here  while  I'm  away.  Inspect  the  men,  give  me 
fifty  of  the  best.  I'll  get  more  as  I  rouse  the  country. 
Now,  gentlemen!"  He  ran  across  to  the  house  whence 
the  sound  of  lamentation  and  wailing  mocked  the  echo- 
ing mirth  of  an  hour  before.  A  hurried  embrace,  a 
rapid  arming,  and  with  a  few  last  words,  the  three 
leaders  sought  their  steeds,  wild  with  eagerness  and 
fretting  on  the  lawn.  As  Jack  Manson  buckled  on  his 
frontier  belt  and  settled  his  pistols  Katie's  arms  were 
thrown  round  his  neck.  "My  poor  old  father!  It's 
that  devil  Maxan  has  carried  him  away!  For  God's 
sake,  save  him !  and  your  own  dear  self.  God  be  with 
you,  Jack,  my  beloved !  You  must  come  back — back  to 
me!" 

His  kisses  rained  upon  her  loving  lips,  as  with  one 
last  embrace,  he  rode  out  on  the  trail  of  the  fleeing  sav- 
ages. "  I  will  meet  that  fiend  face  to  face !  May  God 
defend  the  right!"  The  midnight  premonition 
recurred  like  a  blast  from  an  open  grave.  His  two 
men  waited  at  the  main  gate  as  he  dashed  through, 
and  it  was  half  a  mile  before  his  matchless  charger 
overtook  the  compact  column  swinging  on  in  an  elastic 
lope.  Bayard  briefly  reported: 

"  I  took  ten  men  extra  and  sent  three  to  Rio  Grande, 
three  to  Fort  Mclntosh,  and  two  to  my  ranch  to  turn 
out  my  extra  men,  get  a  pack-train  of  supplies  to  follow 
on  our  trail,  and  two  more  to  find  McNally's  Rangers. 
I've  got  flankers  out  a  mile  each  side,  watching  for  the 
trail.  Now,  we  must  push  on  till  the  last  man  drops! 
It's  the  only  chance  to  save  Silas.  If  there  had  been 
private  revenge  alone,  he  would  have  lain  dead  by  the 
ambulance.  I  can  see  it  all.  They  shot  the  driver  off 


4-1O  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

his  seat.  The  horses  ran  away.  When  the  ambulance 
was  upset,  Silas  was  probably  stunned.  They  found 
him  and  carried  him  away.  It  is  money — a  huge  ran- 
som— for  it  would  not  pay  to  take  such  risks  to  get  a 
man  merely  to  torture.  There's  but  one  man  alive 
would  do  it,  and  Maxan  has  not  had  a  chance  to  get 
around  the  upper  posts,  organize  this  raid,  and  come  in 
here.  It  is  some  daring  white  criminal  or  deserter  who 
knows  of  Silas'  riches,  who  has  put  this  scheme  into 
execution!" 

While  he  sought  to  bring  conviction  to  Jack  and  the 
half-frantic  son,  their  hearts  were  far  away  with  the 
helpless  prisoner  and  the  sorrowing  woman  whose  cup 
of  happiness  had  been  dashed  away. 

A  scout  came  racing  down  the  right-wing  line. 
"  We've  struck  the  broad  trail ! "  he  cried.  In  a  few 
minutes  the  pursuers  were  following  it,  preceded  by 
their  best  scouts.  Old  Basilio's  waving  arm  looked 
ghostly  as  he  followed  the  wide  swath  with  intuition. 
In  grave  silence  the  column  rode  till  daybreak. 

It  was  a  killing  pace!  With  two  hours  for  breakfast, 
grazing  and  feed,  the  troop  was  moving  ahead  at  the 
invincible  wolf  "  lope  "  of  the  plains.  The  three  lovers 
gazed  in  each  other's  eyes.  There  was  no  wasting 
breath  in  idle  words.  Every  cool  rider  inspected  his 
arms  as  the  now  broad  trail  might  lead  them  on  the 
Indians  at  any  moment.  "Jim,"  said  Bayard,  "you  will 
need  your  mind  clear.  Now,  Jack  and  I  will  divide 
these  men  in  two  bands.  You  leave  the  command  to 
me.  Our  only  chance  is  to  run  them  down!  I'll  make 
it  the  hottest  chase  they  ever  saw.  If  we  strike  them, 
you  look  out  for  your  father,  nothing  else!  We  will 
scatter  the  devils  with  a  charge.  You  all  know  what 
we  are  on  this  trail  for.  I'll  say  no  more!" 

"For  Life  and  Love!"  said  Jack  Manson,  leaning 


FOR   LIFE   AND  LOVE.  41! 

easily  over  his  superb  racer,  who  moved  as  if  steel 
springs  guided  his  graceful  bounds.  "  I'll  save  him  for 
the  last  race." 

By  noon  the  trail  left  the  grassy  upper  meadows  of 
the  Nueces  and  led  out  toward  the  dry,  sandy  desert, 
toward  the  Big  Bend  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

"  My  God !  we've  travelled  ninety  miles,"  said  Bay- 
ard, as  they  drew  up  at  a  little  spring,  the  last  before 
crossing  the  dreadful  sandy  waste.  All  the  men  were 
hastily  filling  canteens,  laving  their  necks  and  chests, 
and  then  every  beast  was  well  watered  and  mouth  and 
nostrils  sponged. 

Don  Basilio  rode  up  from  his  scout's  post  on  a  sandy 
hill.  "  Two  companies  of  men,  here,"  he  motioned  to 
the  right.  "  From  your  rancho  and  over  there,  the  sol- 
diers!" 

Bayard  shouted  in  joy.  His  express-riders  had 
skimmed  the  prairie  in  a  wild  run,  and  the  blessed 
"  talking  wire  "  had  done  its  magic  work. 

"  By  heavens !  if  ifs  Buller,  it  would  be  too  much 
luck.  He's  worth  any  dozen  officers  on  the  « Bravo,'  a 
born  soldier;  ought  to  have  been  born  a  Texan!" 

"Jack,  Basilio  will  lead  you  on.  Take  half  the  men. 
I'll  wait  till  these  fellows  come  up.  I  only  want  to 
give  orders.  I'll  send  my  men  off  fifteen  minutes  after 
you,  then  they  can  take  the  lead  when  you  rest." 

With  Jimmy  at  his  side,  Jack  Manson  pushed  out  on 
the  blazing  scoria  and  burning  sands.  His  fiery  ambi- 
tion to  win  Katie's  loving  praise  led  him  far  to  the 
front.  By  his  side,  silent,  spectral,  his  dark  face  shad- 
owed with  grave  concern,  old  Basilio  moved  as  if  a 
gliding  shadow;  and  Jimmy  Leavenworth,  his  gray 
eyes  fixed  on  the  winding  trail,  was  at  Jack's  left  flank. 

The  pace  set  by  the  Kentucky  racer  led  them  half  a 
mile  ahead.  Jack  Hanson's  keen  eye  caught  a  glimpse 


412  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

of  a  moving  form  behind  a  bush  six  hundred  yards  away. 
Loosening  "Kentucky's"  rein,  he  raced  forward, when 
his  companions  reached  him,  he  was  guarding  a  pant- 
ing fugitive  prone  on  the  sand.  It  was  the  spy-boy  who 
had  been  wounded  at  the  canon  fight!  In  an  instant 
Basilic  had  the  lad's  hands  bound.  The  frightened 
prisoner  poured  out  a  flood  of  Spanish,  lost  to  Jack  and 
Leavenworfh  in  their  excitement. 

"Listen,"  said  Basilio.  "It  is  El  Jaguar!  Only 
two  hours  ahead.  He  has  Don  Silas,  and  is  making  for 
the  Painted  Caves,  where  he  will  rest!  He  knew  he 
would  be  followed.  He  meant  to  hide  till  we  had 
passed  on,  and  get  across  to  the  '  No  Man's  Land '  at 
night.  Now,  if  we  push  on,  they  will  kill  Don  Silas 
and  scatter.  I  can  lead  you  ahead  so  we  will  get  in 
first !  I  used  to  be  a  *  contrabandista '  there.  I  know  the 
caves.  Let  us  get  on  ahead.  Take  the  boy  along!" 

"It's  our  only  hope,"  said  Jimmy,  tears  of  rage  in 
his  eyes.  "Now,  Jack,  give  this  boy  your  horse.  We 
will  leave  two  men  here  to  warn  Bayai'd." 

"No!"  cried  Jack.  "Ramon  Maxan  is  my  foe! 
You  stay  with  two  men.  Guide  Bayard  on  the  trail. 
You  watch  over  your  father's  life.  Let  Bayard  com- 
mand the  attack.  I  will  go  on  ahead  with  Basilio  and 
the  boy  and  ambush  them." 

"You  are  right!"  the  squad  cheered,  as  with  the 
prisoner  mounted,  Jack  cried :  "  Now,  boys,  don't  spare 
horseflesh.  It's  speed  now!  We  can  fight  on  foot, 
when  we  get  there.  We  must  be  in  first!'* 

All  the  pursuers  knew  now  that  the  boy  was 
afraid  of  being  made  a  Comanche  slave;  that  he  had 
dropped  off  his  horse  in  the  night,  and  only  ran  because 
he  feared  some  strange  body  of  rangers  might  kill  him, 
not  waiting  for  his  tidings;  for  the  lad  had  kneeled  on 
the  sand  and  crossed  himself,  crying:  "He  saved  my 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  413 

life  at  the  ranch!  I  had  to  run  away;  I  was  afraid  El 
Jaguar  would  kill  me.  Ah,  tiger!  Devil!" 

"God  bless  you,  Jack!"  cried  Jimmy,  as  Manson 
threw  up  his  hand  and  dashed  away!  Old  Basilio  in 
front,  like  an  avenging  fury,  rode  steadily,  swiftly,  on 
his  mentally  selected  route,  cutting  off  the  detour  the 
robbers  had  made  in  the  night.  Shadow  man  and 
shadow  horse,  they  looked  unearthly  in  the  glare. 

An  hour  later,  re-inforced  by  the  ranchmen  and 
keen-eyed  Duller,  Tom  Bayard  pushed  hard  on  the 
trail  to  save  the  father  of  the  gentle  girl  he  loved. 

Jimmy  Leavenworth  silently  pointed  out  every 
yard  to  be  saved,  and  Buller,  his  captain's  double  bars 
now  on  his  golden  shoulder-straps,  cried  cheerily :  "  I 
shall  claim  that  Virginia  Reel  with  Miss  Katie  soon!" 
The  lean,  brown  cavalrymen  dashed  along,  eager  to 
show  the  peerless  riders  of  Texas  that  "Uncle  Sam's 
troopers"  were  "Brothers  of  the  Spur." 

As  the  shades  of  evening  fell,  Jack  Manson  drew  his 
men  together.  Seven  out  of  the  twenty-five  had 
fallen  out,  exhausted  in  the  fierce  race,  with  orders  to 
pick  up  and  come  in  as  a  reserve,  but  not  till  firing  was 
heard. 

Manson's  blood  was  boiling.  In  his  excitement  he 
recked  not  of  Basilio's  warning  whisper,  "We  have 
ridden  thirty-five  miles  in  four  hours!"  The  gallant 
steeds  with  drooping  necks  inhaled  the  freshness  of  the 
evening.  There  was  yet  an  hour  of  light!  And  the 
Painted  Caves  lay  before  them  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away ! 
An  old  bend  of  the  river  showed  a  limestone  bluff,  and 
in  later  years  the  uneasy  Rio  Grande  had  cut  a  channel 
on  the  other  side.  In  these  caverns  of  soluble  limestone, 
many  a  smuggler  and  murderer  had  hidden  safe  in  the 
connecting  chambers  whose  windings  were  known  only 
to  the  Comanches.  Rude  figures  traced  with  lance- 


414  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

point,  knife,  or  burning  brand,  gave  them  the  name  of 
the  Painted  Caves. 

While  Manson  called  his  men  together  for  last 
orders,  Basilio  riding  ahead,  screened  by  a  fringe  of 
cottonwoods  leading  up  to  the  foot  of  the  bluffs,  indi- 
cated, as  he  rode  away,  how  Manson  could  bring  his 
men  under  cover. 

At  any  moment  the  murderers  mignt  now  wind  down 
the  long  arroyo  leading  up  to  the  plains  they  had  crossed 
at  a  sharp  angle.  Hastily  giving  Bronco  Bill  half  the 
men  to  lead,  Manson  cried:  "We'll  know  in  a  moment 
if  they  are  here  yet.  If  they  are,  we  will  fight  on 
foot  and  hold  them  till  Bayard  comes  up.  If  they  are 
not,  we  must  take  our  station  in  hiding  and  attack  in 
ambush.  I'll  only  keep  five  mounted  men  with  you, 
Bill,  to  single  out  old  Silas.  Dash  in  and  surround  him ! 
Leave  the  other  fighting  to  me.  I^ll  attend  to  Maxan 
myself!"  Jack  Manson's  voice  rang  like  the  thrilling 
note  of  a  charge.  Every  Texan  knew  that  he  would 
fight  under  the  spell  of  the  sparkling  blue  eyes  of  the 
girl  he  left  behind  him. 

Basilio  had  dismounted,  and  crawling  forward  like 
a  snake,  left  his  horse  behind  a  knoll,  its  bridle  thrown 
over  a  cactus.  His  two  heavy  revolvers,  the  huge 
knife,  and  the  Winchester  impeded  the  old  man's  move- 
ments. 

It  seemed  an  age!  Every  heart  was  beating  wildly. 
Suddenly,  the  old  phantom  stood  up  and  waved  his 
arms.  In  five  minutes,  Jack  Manson's  men  were  hid 
in  the  shadowed  arches  of  the  caves.  Behind  a  clump 
of  trees  fifty  yards  away,  sat  Bill,  revolver  in  hand, 
another  slung  to  his  saddle-pommel  by  a  rawhide  thong. 
The  other  horses  were  sent  around  the  bend  into  the 
willows  where  the  rushing  river  would  drown  any 
sound!  It  was  a  supreme  moment.  Jack  Manson,  on 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  415 

beautiful,  quivering  "Kentucky,"  was  screened  by  a  tan- 
gle of  vines.  He  was  as  silent  and  stern  as  a  bronze  statue. 
Five  dismounted  men  in  front,  lying  behind  bushes,  lay 
silently,  Winchesters  in  hand.  An  awful  thrill  passed 
through  Manson's  nerves  as  Basilio,  touching  his  arms, 
said  simply:  "Look!  They  come!" 

Jack  passed  the  word.  "  Remember,  not  a  shot  till 
they  are  in  pistol  range.  Wait  my  word!  Bill,  then 
ride  straight  for  the  old  man!" 

Straggling  down  in  twos  and  threes,  a  squad  of 
twenty  horsemen  were  pushing  toward  the  caves.  A 
half-dozen  were  grouped  around  a  led  horse,  guided 
by  a  lariat  on  either  side.  The  four  hundred  yards 
dwindled  to  two.  The  Texans  could  almost  hear  their 
bounding  pulses  throbbing  in  the  wild  impulse  to  spring 
out.  As  a  lithe  horseman  rode  out  in  front,  calling  to 
his  band  and  made  straight  for  the  cave.  Jack  Manson 
saw  his  foe  before  him.  "Ifs  your  life  or  mine,  you 
dog"  he  thought,  as  he  one  flash  of  a  blessing  hovering 
from  afar.  "For  Katie's  sake!"  Driving  the  spurs 
into  Kentucky,  he  yelled,  "/Vow,  boys!'1''  and  rode 
straight  at  his  mortal  foe.  A  withering  volley  rang 
out,  wild  yells  rose  on  the  still  evening  air,  as  Bronco 
Bill's  men  rode  down  the  surprised  Indians,  who  fled 
like  frightened  wolves! 

Wheeling  his  horse  to  gain  freedom  of  movement, 
El  Jaguar  snatched  his  pistol  and  fired  point-blank  at 
Manson.  Jack's  teeth  were  set  as  the  great  Kentucky 
horse  crashed  into  Maxan's  tired  steed.  He  leaned 
easily  to  the  right  and  fired  three  bullets,  with  lightning 
rapidity,  into  the  writhing  body  of  the  prostrate  villain. 

Wheeling  his  faithful  horse,  Jack  saw  in  the  out- 
stretched arms  and  staring  eyes  that  Death  had  set  his 
eternal  seal  on  Ramon  Maxan's  handsome  face!  Up 
the  gorge  the  evening  shadows  were  now  lit  up  with  the 


416  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

sudden  flashes  of  the  heavy  revolvers.  As  the  firing 
began,  the  reserve,  dashing  down  the  bluff,  cut  off  the 
fleeing  Comanches.  Bill  had  been  faithful  to  his  chief! 
His  body-guard  had  sprung  on  the  confused  group 
around  the  captive  frontier  king. 

As  Jack  Manson  rode  over,  with  the  spectral  Basilio 
at  his  side,  Bronco  Bill  was  drawing  out  his  flask.  He 
had  poured  half  its  contents  down  the  ranchero's  throat, 
and  the  rescued  Silas  lay  on  the  sward  safe,  his  gray 
head  resting  on  a  folded  coat. 

Manson  sprang  off  the  beautiful  racer  who  had 
borne  him  so  bravely,  and  cried :  "  Bill,  is  he  safe  ? " 

"  All  right !  "  said  the  scout.  «  He's  had  the  roughest 
old  trip  of  his  life!  "  Stretching  out  a  bony  hand,  he 
said:  "  Cap,  let  me  shake  your  hand!  You're  a  Texan, 
by  God,  every  inch  of  you,  and  Pm  proud  to  know 
you!" 

The  gathered  victors  gave  three  rousing  cheers,  and 
wearied  Silas  Leavenworth  feebly  opened  his  eyes.  He 
motioned.  Jack  bent  over, him.  The  indomitable  old 
ranchero  closed  his  hand  upon  the  young  man's  in  ten- 
derness. For  once,  the  world  saw  old  Silas  unmanned; 
it  was  when,  with  tears  streaming  down  his  cheeks,  he 
murmured: 

"My  son  Jack!" 

In  half  an  hour  a  dozen  camp-fires  on  the  bluff  sig- 
nalled the  victory.  The  dead  Comanches  lay  in  a  silent 
line.  A  herd-guard  controlled  the  horses,  and  three 
armed  men  watched  over  five  living  sullen  red  devils 
lashed  to  as  many  trees.  Sending  out  pickets  and  two 
riders  to  lead  in  the  main  party,  Jack  Manson  was  the 
happiest  man  in  Texas  when  Jimmy  Leavenworth 
rode  up,  sprang  from  his  horse,  and  threw  his  arms 
around  him.  Happier  still,  when  Colonel  Tom  Bayard, 
with  a  sly  glance  at  Buller  (who,  for  once  in  his  life, 
missed  a  fight), said,  with  a  crushing  grasp  of  his  hand: 


FOR   LIFE    AND   LOVE.  i  17 

"Jack,  I  guess  Miss  Katie  will  make  no  objection  to 
our  being  married  on  the  same  day  now  !  " 

Manson  hardly  heard  Buller's  remark  ab>--->t  « that 
Virginia  Reel,"  for  before  him  lay  his  implacable  foe, 
dead  in  his  sin,  and  one  avenging  bullet  had  pierced  his 
very  heart  through  neglected  Panchita's  picture!  The 
Jaguar  was  cold  and  still,  and  Love  had  won  at  last ! 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  BRIDES  OF  SAN  MIGUEL — SENORITA   PANCHITA 

THE  CONGRESSIONAL  ELECTION — AT  ARUNDEL 

HOUSE A   FALLEN    STAR FROM   THE    DEAD 

MILLY  STEELE'S  VISITOR — A  NUECES  BRANCH  OK 
THE   RAILROAD — UNDER  THE  SOUTHERN  CROSS ! 

THE  long  vigil  of  the  Creole's  sleepless  revenge  was 
over.  By  the  light  of  the  flickering  camp-fire,  his 
nameless  grave  was  hollowed.  The  painted  Comanches 
slept  in  a  common  fosse  under  the  mesa,  at  some 
distance  from  the  red  mound  where  El  Jaguar  lay 
alone.  There  was  not  a  word  spoken,  no  woman's 
tear,  no  solemn  voice  of  priest,  as  the  pale  face  of  the 
dead  bandit  was  shut  out  from  mortal  gaze.  By  some 
common  impulse,  the  rangers  heaped  a  cairn  of  stones 
above  Ramon  Maxan's  lonely  grave.  With  happy 
hearts  the  troopers  and  ranchers  made  hurried  prepara- 
tion for  the  morrow's  march.  Side  by  side,  Silas  Leav- 
enworth  and  his  gallant  son  slept,  guarded  by  their 
faithful  men,  on  the  prairie,  while  the  stars  swung 
away  to  the  west  in  peaceful  silence.  The  last  thing 
Jimmy  noted,  as  he  laid  his  head  upon  the  drifted 
leaves,  was  Jack  Manson  standing,  uncovered,  by  his 
foeman's  grave! 


418  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

It  was  even  so!  In  the  silence  of  the  night,  broken 
only  by  the  howl  of  the  prairie  wolves  chasing  down 
the  wounded  ponies  of  the  Comanches,  Katie's  lover 
thanked  God  that  the  release  had  come,  that  the  future 
showed  no  haunting  terror,  and  breathed  a  manly  prayer 
for  his  misguided  and  fallen  foe. 

Thanks  to  the  sudden  dash*  and  the  completeness  of 
the  ambush,  not  a  man  of  Jack's  brave  band  was  miss- 
ing. But  one  rider  was  absent ;  it  was  Bronco  Bill !  Even 
as  Jimmy  was  embracing  his  father,  in  rapture  at  his 
safety,  Jack  Manson  thought  of  Mary  Leavenworth's 
agony,  of  the  sisters  in  their  tears ! 

"Bill,"  he  said,  "fill  your  pouches;  take  my  flask;  I 
want  you  to  ride  like  the  wind  to  San  Miguel.  You 
know  what  to  say.  We  start  home  to-morrow  early. 
Take  the  best  horse  in  the  camp !  " 

"All  right,  Cap!"  said  Bronco  Bill,  as  he  quietly  took 
Kentucky's  rein. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  said  Jack  in  surprise. 

11 1  am  following  your  orders" 

Jack  Manson  laughed,  even  in  his  anxiety.  The  bold 
rider  was  right. 

"  God  .bless  you,  Bill!  You're  a  rough  diamond, 
but  a  gallant  fellow.  Now,  use  him  like  a  man." 

Bill  was  in  the  saddle;  he  bent  over  the  pommel: 
"I  know  the  news  I'm  taking;  but  Miss  Katie — " 

"  Give  her  this"  he  said  gravely,  handing  Bill  the 
picture  of  Panchita,  with  its  fatal  sign,  where  the 
heavy  ball  had  crashed  through  it  into  Maxan's  heart. 

"Tell  her  from  me  she  can  sleep  in  safety  no-j:  ! 
And,  Bill,"  his  face  softened  as  he  said,  "  tell  her  I  am, 
at  last,  a  Texan,  and  her  father  called  me  '  My  son 
Jack!'  Say  that  I'm  coming  home,  for  Life  and  Love. 
You  can  also  tell  her,  Bill,  to  pick  out  the  best  horse  in 
the  ranch  herds  and  give  it  to  you  herself!  I'll  see  you 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


419 


have  him  saddled  in  style,  if  the  Chihuahua  jewelers  can 
doit!" 

With  a  convulsive  hand-grasp,  the  wild  ranger  leaned 
forward  lightly,  loosed  the  rein,  and  Kentucky  bounded 
on  over  the  cool  plains.  The  noble  steed  knew  well  that 
Bronco  Bill's  ride  would  live  long  in  border  story,  and 
his  patrician  nature  longed  for  the  crowning  honor  of 
his  life — a  waiting  honor — for  far  beyond  the  weary 
miles  his  flying  hoofs  must  cross,  the  sweetest  woman 
in  the  south  waited  to  throw  her  arms  around  his  arch- 
ing neck  and  kiss  the  white  star  in  his  forehead! 

By  peep  of  day  the  merry  victors  rose  with  shouts 
from  their  grassy  beds !  The  dew  lay  on  the  grass  as 
they  rode  on  homeward,  and  Silas  Leavenworth  was 
able  to  mount  an  easy  steed. 

"  We  will  find  an  ambulance  waiting  for  you  at 
Comanche  Spring,"  said  Manson,  as  he  grasped  the 
ranchero's  hands. 

"What  shall  we  do  with  the  Indians?  "  said  Tom 
Bayard,  as  the  cavalcade  moved  off  in  triumph. 

"I  will  take  them  down  to  Ringgold,"  said  Captain 
Duller,  who  was  humming  his  regimental  march  as  he 
inspected  the  troopers  filing  by.  "  It  will  give  me  an 
excuse  to  swindle  General  Singleton  out  of  a  trip  to  San 
Antonio,  for  the  commander  of  the  department  will 
send  these  '  studies  in  copper  '  to  Dry  Tortugas  to  listen 
to  the  thin-lipped  Yankee  missionary  girls.  I  will  get  in 
a  week  of  fun  at  Headquarters  and  be  back  at  San 
Miguel,  in  time  to  dance  that  Virginia  Reel.  Is  it  a 
bargain,  Jack  ?  "  said  the  trooper,  for  Bayard,  Buller, 
Leavenworth,  and  Manson  were  now  a  sworn  quartette, 
"  brothers  evermore ! " 

Jack  Manson  mounted  his  borrowed  steed  and  turned 
away  to  hide  his  blushes. 

"Don't  worry  him!     II'  rre  of  his  nuptial 


42O  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

arrangements.  I  am  all  right,"  laughed  Colonel  Bay- 
ard, "  but  Miss  Katie  is  a  little  capricious" 

"  I  think  she  will  be  willing  to  yield  a  point  in  this 
case"  said  Jimmy,  as  he  rode  off  to  join  his  father. 

The  last  man  to  ride  out  of  the  lonely  valley  of  death 
was  Manson,  who  gazed  in  silent  adieu  upon  the  grave 
of  a  man  born  to  a  better  fate. 

In  the  hour  of  triumph,  even  with  Katie's  open  arms 
strained  toward  him,  Jack  Manson's  brow  was  grave  as 
he  thought  of  the  blood  upon  his  hand! 

"  He  fell  in  fair  fight,  God  help  him !  It  was  his  own 
doom ! "  the  lover  said,  as  he  left  his  foe  lying  in  the 
silence,  where  only  the  rippling  river  murmured  of 
life. 

Alone  in  life,  alone  in  death,  Ramon  Maxan  was 
at  last  sleeping  the  sleep  which  knows  no  waking. 

No  frontier  crisis  ever  brought  such  a  horde  of  horse- 
men hurrying  up  the  valley.  When  the  long  reaches 
of  the  burning  desert  were  traversed,  Silas  Leaven- 
worth  found  the  chiefs  of  the  border  waiting  at 
Comanche  Spring  to  welcome  him.  There  were  feasting 
and  revelry,  and  in  every  direction  couriers  sped  away 
to  spread  the  good  news  and  turn  back  new-comers. 

Not  even  to  his  son  would  the  proud  old  borderer 
speak  of  any  incident  of  his  brief  captivity.  He  sought 
the  cover  of  the  waiting  carriage,  and  conversed  in  low 
tones  with  his  son. 

One  night's  camp  on  the  grassy  billows  of  the  Nueces 
was  the  prelude  to  the  home-coming.  By  the  fire  Silas 
assembled  Bayard,  Manson,  and  his  heir  in  a  private 
conference. 

"  I  have  fought  this  border  fight  long  enough,"  he 
said  simply.  "  My  sons,  I  shall  make  these  business 
changes  permanent !  I  will  take  my  wife  North  and 
give  her  a  few  peaceful  years.  We  may  even  go  out 


FOR  LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


421 


into  the  great  world  beyond  the  sea.  Jack,  you  may 
telegraph  your  uncle  that  you  will  handle  the  whole 
joint  business  in  future." 

"When  do  you  think  of  going?  "said  Manson  re- 
spectfully. 

"  I  shall  leave  as  soon  as  these  marriages  are  over," 
replied  the  ex-prisoner.  «  Everybody  seems  to  be  get- 
ting married!  I  think,"  he  said  dryly,  turning  to 
Jimmy,  "I  can  get  down  at  New  Orleans,  and  with 
Mark  Manson,  in  time  to  see  Miss  Gertie  Marshall  and 
find  out  if  she  will  make  a  good  daughter. 

"Yes,  Bayard  and  Jack,  you  can  fix  it  all  up  with 
Jimmy.  You  will  not  be  lonely,  and  he  can  come  up 
to  Arundel  House  as  soon  as  he  can  get  an  invitation 
from  Virginia." 

That  invitation,  was  ready  at  that  very  moment.  In 
royal  procession  the  old  frontier  king  approached  his 
own  kingdom  for  the  last  time. 

When  the  mansion  house  of  San  Miguel  was  seen  at 
last,  nestling  in  its  gardens,  shadowed  by  the  masonry 
citadel,  Jack  Manson  became  strangely  uneasy.  There 
was  a  family  reunion  to  unite  the  severed  hearts!  He 
seemed  to  have  no  exact  place  of  refuge  in  the  affect- 
ing scenes.  His  tired  eyes  roved  over  the  grand  domain 
with  its  princely  sweep  of  billowy  green,  covered  with 
bands  of  wild-eyed  cattle,  dashing  madly  away  with 
tossing,  spreading  horns,  as  the  pickets  on  every  hill 
announced  the  return  of  the  prisoner  by  firing  their 
repeaters.  The  herds  of  graceful  cattle  raced  away  to 
mingle  with  the  last  of  the  "  mustangs,"  warily  circling 
in  mad  career  in  the  open  plain,  stretching  far  toward 
the  treacherous  wood  where  the  Comanches  waited 
their  victim. 

In  some  pretended  accident  to  his  horse,  Jack  Manson 
found  time  to  fall  behind,  for  the  ambulance  was  now 


422  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

speeding  along  to  the  portico  of  Silas  Leavenworth's 
home.  It  was  delicate  in  "  Bronco  Bill"  to  dash  out, 
leading  the  peerless  charger  which  overthrew  man  and 
horse  when  Ramon  Maxan  went  down  like  a  falling 
star! 

"  I  thought  you  might  want  to  ride  Kentticky  in, 
Cap!"  said  Bronco  Bill,  who  was  mounted  on  Silas 
Leavenworth's  best  personal  charger.  "  He's  fit  to  race 
for  a  world  to-day." 

Jack  leaped  from  his  faithful  substitute  and  bounded 
on  Kentucky's  back.  His  boy  caught  the  abandoned 
road-horse.  The  beautiful  racer  threw  up  his  lean, 
delicate  head  and,  bounding  forward  in  a  swift  swallow 
stride,  raced  for  the  house  where  a  happy  group  was 
hovering  in  general  excitement. 

Bill  kept  by  his  side  with  ease. 

"  You  ride  pretty  good  stock,"  said  Manson,  good- 
humoredly.  He  had  to  break  the  current  of  his  thoughts 
or  go  mad,  for  something  seemed  to  gather  at  his  heart. 

"  I'm  playing  to  high  luck,  Cap,"  said  Bill  simply. 
"  Miss  Katie  gave  me  her  father's  own  horse  and  this 
gay  and  festive  riding  rig!  I  had  to  fight  hard  to  keep 
her  from  giving  me  the  whole  ranch!  I'm  to  be  a  sort 
of  major-domo  on  double  pay  and  half  work!" 

Jack's  eyes  were  dim  and  he  only  heard  half  the 
scout's  babble^  for,  as  he  drew  up  at  the  door,  a  gentle, 
gray-haired  woman,  dressed  in  black,  glided  out  from 
the  opened  doorway  of  the  mansion. 

Her  arms  were  around  his  neck,  her  grateful  tears 
fell  on  his  bronzed  cheek  as  she  kissed  him,  and  Mary 
Leavenworth  whispered  to  the  new  son  of  her  heart: 

"  Down  there  in  the  garden ! " 

Jack's  heart  throbbed  with  an  infinite  bliss  as  he 
strode  down  the  well-known  path  where  the  scattered 
rose  leaves  lay  under  his  feet.  His  blue  eyes  gleamed 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


423 


tenderly  under  the  crisp  curls  shading  his  glowing  face. 
There  was  no  one  in  sight,  no  rustle  of  any  robe,  no 
footfall  waking  the  silent,  rose-shaded  alleys. 

"  Ah!"  he  gasped  in  one  deep-drawn  heart-throb,  for 
the  shading  rose- vines  showed  him,  in  his  own  chosen 
retreat,  the  maid  who  "  needed  discipline  "  standing  with 
outstretched  arms  and  a  light  he  never  had  seen  before 
in  the  deep-blue  eyes! 

"My  darling!"  he  cried,  as  he  clasped  her  to  his 
breast.  "Look  up!"  For  the  little  sunny  head  lay 
lightly  on  his  breast!  He  felt  her  heart  beat  against 
his  own,  and  as  their  lips  met,  she  whispered,  with  her 
arms  around  his  neck: 

"  Never  to  be  parted  any  more." 

The  sparkling  eyes  grew  suddenly  dreamy,  and  it 
only  was  her  lover's  burning  kisses  which  called  Katie 
Leaven  worth  back  to  "  Life  and  Love!" 

Hand  in  hand  the  lovers  slowly  moved  up  the  garden 
an  hour  later,  and  entered  the  drawing-room,  where 
the  family  circle  was  united  in  tender  reunion.  There 
was  an  expectant  silence  as  they  entered,  until  Silas 
Leavenworth  motioned  to  his  best-beloved  child.  Katie 
stood  waiting,  with  throbbing  heart,  before  the  abdicat- 
ing King  of  the  Border!  He  gently  placed  her'hand 
in  Jack's,  and  sai'd :  "  My  boy,  I  owe  yozt  nothing 
now  I  A  life  for  a  life! " 

Katie's  eyes  were  strangely  shy  as  she  said  sub- 
missively to  Jack  Manson,  standing  by  her  side :  "  I 
must  do  as  my  father  bids  me!  " 

Colonel  Thomas  Bayard  broke  the  spell  by  saying 
in  a  voice  breathing  an  unwonted  happiness  :  "  I  do  not 
approve  of  haste,  but  a  minister  whom  I  know  will  be 
here  to-morrow,  and  the  opportunity  may  not  occur  for 
some  time  again!  " 

No   voice   was  raised    in   protest,    and  a   welcome 


424  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

diversion  was  made  by  dashing  Captain  Buller,  who 
had  been  ushered  in.  He  gazed  fixedly  at  the  expect- 
ant bridegrooms,  and  said  to  the  Rose  of  San  Miguel : 
"  I  beg  to  ask  the  honor  of  your  hand  for  the  Virginia 
Reel  at  your  sister's  wedding!" 

"Captain,  I  do  not  know  if  brides  dance,"  said  rebell- 
ious Katie,  with  a  flash  of  her  old  spirit. 

"  You  are  going  to  be  married  to-morrow  also? "  said 
her  military  tormentor  in  mock  astonishment. 

Katie  glanced  furtively  at  the  tall  lover  by  her  side. 
"I  do  not  know!  I  think  so!"  she  remarked  doubt- 
fully. 

"  I  am  sure  of  it! "  said  Manson,  with  an  air  of  cheer- 
ful resolution,  which  settled  that  question  forever. 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  when  the  whole  party 
rose  from  an  impromptu  feast. 

As  Captain  Buller  departed  to  leisurely  inspect  his 
troopers,  who  were  enjoying  a  carte-blanche  merry- 
making, he  said:  "  Nearly  everyone  I  hear  of  is  going 
to  be  married.  Now,  Senora  Panchita  will  be  a  be- 
witching widow  and  I  think  I  will  ride  over  in  a  few 
months!" 

"You  need  not  go  so  far,  Captain,"  said  the  happy 
Katie,  who  had  now  recovered  her  semi -defiant  manner. 
"  That  lady  is  coming  in  a  few  days  to  be  my  guest  for 
a  month." 

"Ah!"  said  the  gallant  soldier,  turning,  cap  in  hand. 
"In  that  case,  I  may  look  in  here  then,  on  my  return 
from  San  Antonio.  [  believe  in  military  promptness!  " 

"You  are  welcome  as  long  as  a  blade  of  grass  grows 
on  the  ranch,  Captain,"  said  Silas  heartily. 

"  Even  with  my  blue  coats?  "  said  hardy  Buller. 

"Yes,  bring  the  whole  Yankee  army!"  said  the 
overjoyed  old  ex-rebel. 

"  That's  a  game  and  gallant    fellow,"  said  Silas,  as 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  425 

Buller  was  heard  cheerfully  whistling,  «  Then  you'll 
remember  me,"  as  he  sprang  on  his  steed  and  rode 
away. 

"  Gentlemen  !  "  said  Silas,  as  his  wife's  wearied  eyes 
gave  him  a  mute  signal.  «« We  owe  something  to  these 
anxious  and  wearied  ones.  I  have  sent  for  Norden- 
skiold  already  to  come  and  bring  all  our  friends  from 
the  bay.  He  can  arrange  the  law-papers  here.  So  I 
will  leave  all  the  business  in  your  hands.  There  will 
be  plenty  of  time  for  Jimmy  to  arrange  all  as  he  goes 
North  with  me.  We  will  leave  at  once  after  the 
wedding. " 

The  stars  shone  tenderly  down  on  the  lovers  that  even- 
ing wandering  in  the  garden,  when  Katie  whispered 
in,  good-night.  "God  keep  and  bless  you!  My  own 
darling,  I  am  yours.  But  you  must  be  a  Texan  forever- 
more!"  The  compact  of  Jack's  naturalization  was 
sealed  with  unnumbered  kisses. 

It  was  a  strange  circle  which  gathered  in  the  great 
parlors  when  the  sun  had  sunk  to  rest  the  next  evening 
and  the  white,  glittering  stars  swung  up  from  the  blue 
Gulf.  Stalwart  men,  whose  names  were  famed  in 
border  life,  watched  the  gathering  throng,  which  filled 
even  the  great  porticoes.  There  were  few  women 
present,  save  Pastor  Sunderland's  wife  and  the  wonder- 
ing maids  who  followed  the  two  sisters  to  the  hall-doors. 
But  in  the  throng,  hawk-eyed,  aristocratic  Nordenskiold, 
jolly  old  Major  Blucher,  the  stern,  revengeful  Hodges, 
and  all  the  available  local  dignitaries  of  Corpus  Christi 
marked  the  loveliness  of  the  Brides  of  San  Miguel. 

Silas  Leavenworth  and  his  patient  wife  were  the 
objects  of  profound  attention,  when  the  fateful  words 
were  spoken  which  gave  them  two  noble  sons  to  close 
up  their  family  circle. 

While  Jimmy   Leavenworth  clasped  his  new-made 


426  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

brothers'  hands,  there  was  a  thrill  of  astonishment  as 
jaunty  Captain  Buller,  in  a  wonderfully  neat  impro- 
vised, half -dress  uniform,  saluted  both  the  brides  with  a 
kiss,  murmuring  archly  "  military  promptness!"  Old 
Colonel  Ford  gravely  kissed  the  girls'  foreheads, 
simply  saying:  "  This  is  the  happiest  day  of  my  life. 
May  the  Lone  Star  shine  always  on  your  happiness!" 

St.  Cecilia  Alice,  in  stately  loveliness,  led  her 
strangely  gentle  sister  Katie  up  to  the  brother  who  had 
tenderly  watched  their  girlhood,  and  whispered,  as  she 
kissed  the  gallant  fellow,  "For  Sister  Gertie."  And 
it  was  late  that  night  before  Captain  Buller  led  that 
never-to-be-forgotten  Virginia  Reel  with  lovely  Katie! 

Before  the  train  rolled  away,  four  days  later,  which 
bore  Silas  Leavenworth  and  his  overjoyed  wife  to  the 
shores  of  the  Gulf,  Jack  Manson,  beaming  with  hap- 
piness, was  glad  to  announce,  in  full  dispatches,  to  his 
uncle  the  lull  in  the  passing  storm. 

For  Mark  Manson's  cipher  had  flashed  to  him  these 
fateful  words: 

The  great  border  movement  has  been  abandoned.  Steele  and 
I  are  in  accord,  but  you  must  direct  and  reorganize  the  whole 
line  of  operations.  We  look  to  you  to  save  everything. 

It  was  with  a  thankful  heart  Jack  Manson  read  the 
return  to  his  own  dispatch  announcing  the  double 
wedding: 

You  have  my  full  authority  to  control  the  future  of  the  Rio 
Grande  Railroad,  for'you  own  half  my  interests  there. 

It  was  indeed  a  royal  wedding-present! 

In  these  busy  days  the  happy  sisters  were  not  alone, 
for  a  graceful  woman,  in  black,  whose  wonderful  eyes 
shone  tenderly  on  them,  wandered  in  Katie's  garden. 
It  was  Senora  Panchita! 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.   . 


427 


Strange  to  say,  die  tall  Dane  hovered  around  her 
every  movement,  and  the  musical  Castilian  tongue 
of  their  dialogue  guarded  some  weighty  matters  of 
secret  import.  The  legal  papers  were  finished,  and  a 
volunteer  escort  awaited  the  departing  ranchero — king 
no  more,  for  his  sceptre  had  passed  to  others. 

Before  an  astonished  circle,  Olaf  Nordenskiold  led 
Sefiora  Panchita  up  to  Silas  Leavenworth.  "  It  is  only 
just  to  inform  you  all  that  this  lady,  in  seeking  a  shelter 
with  friends,  has  found  a.  father!" 

There  was  a  happy  wonder  in  the  eyes  of  the  beau- 
tiful brides,  who  never  begged  their  lovely  visitor  to 
unfold  all  the  sealed  pages  of  that  life-mystery! 

"  Mr.  Manson,"  said  Nordenskiold,  when  the  car- 
riages were  ready,  as  he  drew  Jack  aside,  "  I  have  a  few 
private  words  for  your  own  ear."  Walking  up  and 
down  the  lawn  the  Dane  astonished  the  happy  Bene- 
dict. 

"  I  must  go  on  with  Silas,  for  he  has  a  flood  of  business 
at  New  Orleans.  We  have  been  friends  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century ;  we  are  both  men  of  a  border  type  soon  to 
disappear.  I  am  his  lawyer,  his  father-confessor  in 
things  mundane.  You  are  now  his  son-in-law  and  rep- 
resentative. Do  not  be  astonished  at  any  things  touching 
his  past  life  which  may  come  to  you!  You  are  now  one 
of  us — one  of  the  mystic  circle  which,  guided  by  self- 
interest,  has  controlled  the  great  advance  on  Mexico! 
Silas  has  been  like  all  of  us,  a  soldier  of  fortune,  a 
creature  of  circumstance,  and,  guided  by  self-interest 
only,  his  bravery,  nerve,  and  plotting  brain  have  built  up 
a  border  empire  for  a  thankless  future  generation! 
Be  charitable  in  your  judgments."  The  old  lawyer 
paused.  "  I  shall  leave  Panchita  here  until  I  have 
saved  Silas  Leavenworth  every  possible  annoyance 
from  that  dead  brute's  treachery.  I  will  not  disguise 


428  FOR    LIFE     AND    LOVE 

that  we  were  bound  together  by  gain  and  pride 
of  control.  We  had  to  direct  every  interest  here, 
and  our  record  is  not  clear!  Jimmy  is  a  noble  fellow. 
He  knows  nothing  of  the  dark  side  of  the  Rio  Grande 
Company.  His  mother  and  sisters  have  shared  the 
anxieties,  not  the  profits,  of  these  hidden  adventures. 
Now,  you  must  spare  all  their  feelings !  I  have  instructed 
Rudolf  Harbeck,  Beriah  Mott,  Collector  Rains,  and 
Chisholm's  factotum  at  New  Orleans  to  post  you  fully 
through  my  chief  clerk,  whom  I  leave  with  you  here. 
A  number  of  men  will  come  here  on  business  from 
Brownsville,  Matamoras,  Indianola,  perhaps  from 
Havana  and  San  Antonio,  timorous  fellows  frightened 
by  this  noise.  All  you  will  have  to  do  is  to  refer  them 
to  me  later!  I  know  the  law's  delays,"  said  Norden- 
skiold,  with  a  sneer. 

"  I  shall  first  smooth  up  Chisholm's  affairs  so  he  can 
safely  return.  Then,  clearing  up  all  clouds  between  your 
uncle  and  Silas,  bend  my  energies  to  induce  Senator 
Steele  to  resign  and  go  abroad  in  a  diplomatic  position. 
We  control  the  courts  here.  Steele  is  a  fool,  though 
crafty.  I  want  him  out  of  the  way.  Chisholm  is  a  genius. 
The  President  will  not  be  able  to  hold  Steele  up  longer 
as  a  great  party  leader  in  the  South.  General  Grant  is 
loyal  to  his  friends,  but  he  has  a  noble  soul.  The  press- 
ure brought  on  him  to  press  forward  on  defenseless 
Mexico  and  conquer  the  Free  Zone  has  been  gigantic! 
But  Maxan's  annoying  disclosures  have  made  a  frontier 
quarrel  impossible.  It  will  be  only  a  peaceful  commercial 
and  railroad  advance  which  will  throw  us  on  to  the  halls 
of  the  Montezumas,  not  a  cowardly  and  unnecessary 
war.  I  have  kept  in  the  inside  of  the  whole  intrigue. 
It  will  yet  be  written  in  letters  of  gold  on  Grant's  tomb 
that,  though  he  gained  his  laurels  by  the  sword,  he  was 
at  heart  a  man  of  peace — peace-promoting  and  peace- 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  4^9 

loving.  The  great  onward  movement  has  failed!  The 
day  of  'irregular  operations'  in  the  border  is  passing. 
Your  railroad  is  the  great  civilizer.  Now,  take  up 
your  burden  with  Bayard  and  Jimmy.  Live  an  honor- 
able and  clean  life.  Build  up  the  State  you  are  doubly 
tied  to  now.  And  when  Silas  and  the  man  who  speaks 
are  lying  with  our  heads  under  the  prairie  grass, 
remember  that,  in  our  place,  you  and  your  comrade 
might  have  drifted  into  the  same  questionable  ways!" 

"  I  shall  close  my  professional  career  with  this  last 
service  to  Silas.  I  have  enough — too  much,  in  fact,  for 
peace.  Money  beyond  reasonable  needs  is  only  a 
source  of  daily  care  !  I  shall  return  to  open  the  closed 
leaves  of  life's  book,  simply  to  be  loyal  to  old  clients. 
As  for  my  future,"  he  said,  with  a  glance  of  his  steady, 
gray  eye  toward  the  beautiful  Panchita,  "  I  have  found 
that  there  is  one  thing  sweeter  than  sin,  dearer  than  the 
pride  of  life  or  the  joys  of  passion ! " 

"It  is,"  said  Jack,  in  wonder  at  this  touch  of  tender 
feeling. 

"A  manly  atonement  for  the  past!"  said  the  lawyer, 
as  he  grasped  Jack's  hands  and  whispered:  "You  can 
use  my  cipher  through  the  clerk.  Rely  on  him ;  he  is 
skilful  and  quiet.  Let  nothing  reach  Jimmy's  ears 
to  cloud  his  future."  He  joined  the  waiting  ranchero. 

So,  with  a  triumphal  escort,  Silas  Leavenworth  went 
forth  to  rest  in  peace  after  the  storm-tossed  days  of  a 
life  of  intrigue  on  the  wild  border. 

That  most  bewitching  of  young  matrons,  Mrs.  Jack 
Manson,  began  to  rivet  up  the  golden  chain  of  her 
supremacy,  the  guiding  thrall  of  her  husband-lover, 
by  complaining  artfully  of  "  neglect,"  "  his  great  atten- 
tion to  business,"  etc. 

The  days  were  not  long  enough  now  for  Manson  and 
Jimmy,  who  was  preparing  to  seek  the  shades  of  Arun- 


430  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

del  Manor.  One  local  scheme  interested  the  Bayards 
and  delighted  Katie's  heart.  A  sudden  vacancy  had 
caused  a  special  congressional  election.  By  common 
consent  of  the  Western  magnates,  the  name  of  James 
Leavenworth  was  decided  upon  to  be  used  in  his 
absence  upon  the  wedding  tour. 

It  befell  later,  that  the  absent  candidate  received 
every  vote  in  the  district,  save  three,  which  were  cast  on 
a  principle  of  "personal  honor  "  by  three  Federal  office, 
holders,  who  were  escorted  to  the  polls  by  a  Mexican 
band  playing  " Dixie's  Land!"  The  gallant  plainsman 
indeed  received  a  "Texan  majority,"  practically,  the 
whole  vote! 

Mrs.  Katie,  a  picture  of  happiness  and  dangerously 
liable  to  become  a  source  of_"  grave  future  trouble,"  in 
her  loving  mastery  of  the  man  who  held  her  heart  in  fee, 
rode  out  several  times  with  Jack  to  see  the  railroad  now 
crawling  up  to  the  very  ranch  gates.  An  impromptu 
race,  witnessed  by  a  thousand  cheering  workmen,  gave 
Manson  a  chance  to  display  his  gallantry.  Mrs.  Katie 
won  the  canter  by  a  length! 

"  You  dear  old  humbug!"  said  the  beauty,  as  Jack 
swung  her  from  the  saddle.  "  You  knozu  Kentucky 
can  beat  my  darling  just  one  length  in  a  mile. 
You  held  him  in,  sir.  You  do  not  race  fairly. 
Jack,"  said  Katie,  as  she  walked  gayly  along  by 
her  husband's  side,  flicking  off  the  prairie  flowers  with 
her  riding-whip,  "  do  you  remember  the  day  when  you 
asked  me  at  Arundel  House  if  I  could  ride?"  Her 
ringing  laughter  made  the  sons  of  toil  pause  and  gaze 
admiringly  as  they  leaned  on  pick  or  shovel. 

"I  do!"  said  her  husband  humblv. 

"  Well,  sir,  I  will  confess  now  I  had  already  made 
up  my  mind  that  I  would  show  you  how  I  could  ride, 
and  continue  the  exhibition  for  many,  many  years! 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


43  1. 


You  were  doomed  to  be  a  Texan  from  the  first  day  I 
met  you." 

"I  am  satisfied,"  said  Jack;  "and  to  show  it  I'll  give 
you  a  prize  you  won  in  this  remarkable  equestrian  com- 
petition. It  comes  from  Uncle  Mark,  but  you  can  credit 
it  to  me.  I  kept  it  until  you  were  unusually  worthy  of 
praise  and  now  I  will  reward  you  for  your  frankness." 

"Oh,  Jack!"  said  Miss  Katie,  in  an  ecstasy  of 
delight,  as  she  gazed  on  a  magnificent  set  of  diamonds 
which  Mark  Manson  had  forwarded  as  a  firstling  of 
his  generous  approbation.  "  You  will  have  to  take  me 
sometime  to  Saratoga  or  Long  Branch  to  exhibit  these," 
the  beauty  cried,  for  it  was  in  the  golden  days  of  those 
Vanity  Fairs. 

"  You  are  best  fitted  to  shine  at  home  here  on  the 
ranch ! "  said  Jack  severely. 

"  Never  mind ! "  cried  his  lovely  wife ;  "  I  will  be  like 
the  moon — go  around  the  world  and  shine  for  all!  " 

"  Not  till  Mr.  James  Manson  has  become  a  slave 
of  the  golden  lamp,  like  me ! "  answered  Jack.  "  Then 
we  may  do  a  bit  of  world-wandering,  but  only  when 
the  railroad  is  all  done,  and  you  have  also  given  Gertie 
some  of  your  sage  advice  about  life  in  Texas." 

"  If  she  finds  as  easy  a  road  to  happiness  as  I  have," 
cried  Katie,  "  she  can  spare  my  advice.  I  will  leave  her 
future  happiness  in  Brother  Jimmy's  hands." 

The  young  men  toiled  in  Silas'  den  with  Bayard,  and 
received  deputations  of  leading  citizens,  affected  by  the 
new  regime,  or  curious  to  meet  the  winsome  brides  of 
San  Miguel.  Colonel  Mejia,  while  looking  for  new 
matters  to  busy  his  hard-worked  adjutant,  yet  found 
time  to  send  to  Madam  Katie  the  complete  trousseau 
of  a  bride,  and  these  splendid  garnitures  were  prepared 
in  Paris  and  sent  complete  to  Mexico. 

Katie    Manson's    happy    laughter   brought    all   the 


432  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

dwellers  in  the  mansion  to  feast  their  eyes  on  these 
wonders,  for  the  daughters  of  Mexico,  in  their  womanly 
pride,  were  as  richly  furnished  forth  often  as  an  arch- 
duchess of  Austria.  The  boundless  wealth  of  the 
hacienda  aristocrats  of  Mexico  gladdened  the  far-off 
Parisian  merchant's  heart. 

"So  thoughtful!  and  a  soldier  too!  Who  would 
have  fancied  that  he  could  be  so  delicate  in  this  princely 
gift?  So  timely  /"  It  was  remarkable,  for  several  sets 
of  robes  for  every  possible  occasion,  with  the  remotest 
detail,  were  spread  out  when  the  great  cases  were  at 
last  emptied. 

"  They  have  these  outfits  entire  in  the  great  marts  at 
Matamoras,"  said  Brother  Jimmy.  "  But  how  he  was 
enabled  to  suit  them  to  you,  I  can  not  divine."  All 
eyes  were  turned  on  the  brilliant  bird  of  paradise,  for 
Katie  had  re-entered  the  great  rooms  arrayed  in  one  of 
these  marvels. 

"  I  must  confess,"  said  the  dark-eyed  Panchita.  "  I 
was  secretly  charged  by  Colonel  Mejia  to  furnish  the 
measures  which  your  maids  gave  me.  And  let  me  now 
complete  the  offering,"  said  Panchita,  for  the  madcap 
Katie  had  donned  a  rich  evening  toilet.  The  lovely 
Spaniard  clasped  a  superb  necklace  of  Gulf  of  Califor- 
nia pearls  around  the  beautiful  wife's  neck. 

" Not  his!"  she  said,  with  a  shudder.  There  were 
shining  tears  in  Panchita's  eyes  as  she  whispered,  "  J/y 
mother's!  I  was  told  to  give  them  to  you  by  the  father 
I  have  found  at  last." 

There  were  serious  labors  waiting  to  occupy  the 
three  young  men  at  the  "  Den."  For  Silas  Leaven- 
worth  was  now  at  New  Orleans,  and  the  temporary  tele- 
graph of  the  railroad,  now  at  their  very  door,  was  busied 
with  cipher  messages  from  the  wily  Danish  lawyer. 
The  property  and  vessels,  the  seized  goods  and  con- 
fiscated moneys  of  the  associates  were  bonded,  released, 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  433 

or  by  some  mysterious  processes  placed  where,  in  the 
sluggish  course  of  investigation  and  nerveless  litigation, 
they  would  finally  return  to  the  partners.  Manson 
alone  understood  all  these  manoeuvres.  The  men 
embjoiled  in  these  troubles  were  forced  to  go  on  and 
finish  their  plans! 

But  grave  governmental  changes  had  occurred.  Sev- 
eral Cabinet  officers  had  been  transferred  or  resigned! 
A  new  set  of  customs  officials  suddenly  appeared,  and 
all  the  journals  were  now  strangely  reticent  as  to  the 
movements  of  that  great  statesman,  Senator  Steele. 

Jack  Manson  understood  a  brief  note  from  Olaf 
Nordenskiold  traced  in  his  own  hand: 

All  is  safe  now;  Chisholm  can  quietly  return.  The  mail 
and  other  contracts  are  saved.  One  of  our  associates  in  power 
had  to  do  this  to  save  himself,  but  1  think  that  Senator  Steele 
will  resign  and  accept  a  foreign  mission.  The  best  news  is  that 
Mark  Manson  seems  to  feel  very  well— by  wire.  My  next  will 
be  from  New  York.  Meanwhile,  my  clerk  has  reported  that 
you  are  a  man  of  both  energy  and  prudence!  Look  out  for 
any  straggling,  revengeful  desperado.  Guard  your  lines  every- 
where. Silas  is  safe  at  last  in  name  and  pocket. 

Manson  marvelled  at  Nordenskiold's  success.  He 
never  did  know  the  agonizing  efforts  of  the  mysterious 
No.  4  who  was  obliged  to  save  Senator  Steele  public  dis- 
grace. Only  Milly  Steele  ever  knew  the  real  identity  of 
the  hidden  agent  who,  as  No.  4,  had  schemed  to  throw 
a  great  people  in  arms  upon  a  weak  sister  republic! 
There  was  such  an  ebb-tide  of  fallen  statesmen,  drifting 
away  after  the  abortive  "  Greeley  campaign"  that  no 
one  surmised  who  the  great  man  was,  who  owed  his 
own  ruin  and  the  balking  of  a  desperate  enterprise  to 
Ramon  Maxan's  insensate  love  for  Katie  Leavenworth. 

Conjecture  was  vain!  The  mantle  of  silence  hah 
never  been  lifted !  The  all-seeing  journalists  only  knew 


434  FOR    LIFE 

that  a  new  spirit  breathed  along  the  Rio  Grande ;  that 
the  arrival  of  cavalry  corps,  heavy  trains  of  munitions, 
artillery  movements,  and  secret  planning  had  been 
mysteriously  diverted,  arrested,  or  countermanded! 

The  three  lovers  laughed  when  a  scrawl  from  Silas 
reached  them  from  New  Orleans.  It  was  through 
Harbeck,  the  confidential  book-keeper.  It  was  laconic. 

Rudolf,  what  ready  money  have  I  on  hand  in  my  private 
account?  I  need  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  go  to  Europe.  Will 
there  be  anything  feft  for  Jim?  If  not,  show  him  this  and  tell 
him  from  me  to  sell  some  cattle.  Telegraph  your  answer! 

"Well,  old  man,"  said  the  expectant  bridegroom, 
"  can  my  father  go  abroad  in  peace  and  not  worry 
about  me?" 

"  You  need  not  sell  any  cattle!"  said  the  old  German, 
with  a  quiet  smile,  "  I  suppose  you  will  wish  to  draw 
liberally,  on  your  marriage."  He  gazed  respectfully  at 
the  young  heir. 

"By  Jove!  boys,"  laughed  Jimmy,  "  I  had  my  mind 
simply  fixed  on  getting  away  for  the  Virginia  trip.  I 
forgot  all  about  any  money." 

"  You  will  need  money,"  said  Tom  Bayard  gravely, 
as  he  reflected  that  he  was  married  longer  (by  five  min- 
utes) than  the  careful  Manson.  He  was  the  ranking 
"family  man!" 

"Is  that  your  experience?  "  roared  Jimmy,  with  sly 
reference  to  the  hidden  glories  of  Bayard's  Nueces 
Valley  mansion,  which  Alice  had  not  yet  examined. 
"I'm  told  that  you  emptied  the  New  Orleans  shops." 

"  I  have  a  whole  lot  of  new  things,"  admitted  the 
now  thoroughly  tamed  ex-rebel,  in  manly  confusion.  "I 
hope  that  they  will  please  my  wife,"  he  finished  in  a 
doubtful  tone. 

"  Well,  I'll  not  break  your  bank,  Rudolf,"  said 
Jimmy,  "  you  can  hold,  however,  twenty  thousand 


-   FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  435 

dollars  subject  to  my  order.  So  telegraph  my  father  it's 
all  right. 

"The  fact  is,  gentlemen,"  said  James,  in  a  modest 
tone,  "  I  shall  have  a  little  look  around  and  then  bring 
my  wife  (he  smiled  faintly)  back  here  and  economize!" 

"That's  right!"  said  Manson;  "and  be  sure  first  to 
get  the  -wife,  then  you  can  come  here  and  economize  all 
you  wish!  For  Katie  proposes  to  give  a  rather  ambi- 
tious reception  or  two  in  Uncle  Mark's  old  palace  on 
Gramercy  Square.  She  will  just  set  off  your  econom- 
ical fit  in  the  annual  balance-sheet." 

"  Seriously,"  said  the  young  plainsman,  "  I  have  a 
little  special  business  at  Arundel  House,  and  father  and 
mother  will  be  there  waiting  me  soon.  I  feel  that  this 
little  estrangement  with  Mark  Manson  will  yield  to 
Nordenskiold's  experience  and  tact.  Now,  Tom,"  said 
Leavenworth,  turning  to  the  genial  Confederate,  "  the 
border  was  never  as  quiet.  Buller's  dashing  troopers, 
McNally's  Rangers,  and  our  own  stock  riders  and  rail- 
road men  make  an  invincible  ring  of  faithful  guardians 
around  San  Miguel.  I  can  go  away  with  a  clear  con- 
science as  to  responsibility.  You  two  can  run  a  dozen 
situations  like  this.  Keep  Bronco  Bill  and  old  Basilic 
moving.  If  you  should  both  leave,  send  for  Colonel 
Rip  Ford  and  let  him  act  as  generalissimo.  He  never 
sleeps  on  guard,  the  dear,  old,  gray  fox.  Look  at 
the  changes  of  the  last  four  years!  Cortina  is 
out  of  power,  a  prisoner  far  away.  Caballo  Blanco 
is  dead!  Mauricio  Portugal  was  shot  all  to  pieces 
in  Matamoras  Plaza  the  other  day.  Poor  John 
Wesley  Hardin,  too,  was  captured  in  Florida  the  other 
day.  He  will  chafe  out  his  life  at  Huntsville  prison. 
The  Freedmen's  Bureau  and  Reconstruction  Govern- 
ment shams  are  at  an  end.  There  is  no  disturbance 
now.  I  feel  that  the  era  of  the  knife  and  six-shooter  is 


436  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

over.  There  is  every  promise  for  the  future,  and  I 
look  forward  to  the  day  when  Texas  will  be  grid-ironed 
with  railways,  these  plains  covered  with  smiling  homes, 
and  all  our  land  under  fence.  That  is  the  epoch  for  the 
final  disappearance  of  the  cowboy." 

"You  may  be  right.  God  grant  you  are  a  sound 
prophet,"  said  jovial  Tom  Bayard.  "  But  what  will 
you  do  with  Bronco  Bill?  " 

"  Oh,  he  is  so  proud  and  lazy  since  he  rode  Ken- 
tucky in  with  the  good  news,  that  I  think  he  will  '  get 
religion'  and  become  a  popular  exhorter.  Katie  has 
already  spoiled  him,  Jack,  as  she  is  rapidly  spoiling 
you!" 

"Look  here,  young  man,  it  is  about  time  for  you  to 
pack  your  kit  and  march  toward  the  Potomac.  I 
think  we  can  let  him  go  now,  Colonel  ?  "  said  Manson, 
appealing  to  the  ex-rebel. 

"  Vayase  V.  con  Dios ! "  remarked  Bayard,  exhausting 
his  Castilian  flourishes. 

"  Very  good,"  cried  James  Leavenworth,  and  it  is 
a  matter  of  history  that  he  embraced  his  lovely  sisters 
and  rode  away  to  the  Gulf,  drawn  by  the  magnet  of 
Love,  and  one  of  the  first  bits  of  astounding  news  he 
heard,  after  that  wedding  which  revived  the  olden 
glories  of  Arundel  House,  was  that  he  was  a  Congress- 
man in  spite  of  himself! 

Winifred  Marshall  was  happy  once  more  in  the 
friendship  of  Mary  Leavenworth.  The  ranchero's 
steadfast  wife,  gentle  and  placid,  fitted  admirably  the 
quiet  dignity  of  the  home-life  at  Arundel.  Silas 
Leavenworth,  under  the  astute  counsels  of  Norden- 
skiold,  had  met  Mark  Manson  in  peace,  and  the  broad 
plan  of  the  final  development  of  their  great  prop- 
erties was  left  to  the  younger  men.  The  old  New 
York  financier,  in  earnest  of  his  renewed  friendship, 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  437 

made  a  pilgrimage  to  Arundei  House,  and  beamed 
upon  the  marriage  with  approving  eyes.  In  view 
of  the  recent  dignity  conferred  upon  the  young 
ranchero,  he  purposed  an  early  return  to  San  Miguel. 

"  You  will  have  a  delightful  opportunity  to  meet 
the  picturesque  constituents  of  your  husband,"  said 
Mark  Manson  to  the  happy  Gertrude.  "From  the 
private  reports  ot  my  nephew,  there  are  certainly  some 
remarkable  people  on  the  Rio  Grande!  You  are  an 
exception,  my  dear  young  lady,  to  the  general  rule.  I 
have  heard  it.said  that  it  is  peopled  only  by  those  who 
are  wanted  in  no  other  place  !  "  He  smiled  benignly, 
in  hinting  at  the  Texan  welcome  already  in  preparation 
by  her  sweet  sisters  of  the  heart. 

"  I  have  a  little  commission  for  you,"  said  the  old 
Croesus.  "  Will  you  kindly  bear  this  little  reminder  to 
Mrs.  Bayard  and  accept  a  similar  token  for  yourself?" 
The  jeweler's  art  had  been  taxed  to  provide  the 
exquisite  parures  of  gems  offered  as  a  token  of  peace. 

"  I  regret  that  I  can  not  visit  the  great  rancho  my- 
self, but  we  seniors  have  one  bit  of  final  diplomacy  to 
finish  at  Washington,  and  then  Mr.  Leavenworth  can 
proceed  in  peace  to  Europe." 

It  was  in  fact  to  "  efface  "  Ezra  Steele,  as  a  respon- 
sible statesman,  and  see  him  wafted  to  some  foreign 
clime,  that  Nordenskiold,  Leavenworth,  and  Mark 
Manson  labored  in  unison.  Steele  was  pompous,  obsti- 
nate, and  crafty,  and  vain  of  the  public  mention  of  the 
journals.  The  acute  Dane  well  knew  that  Chisholm 
(now  returned),  Manson's  railway  venture,  and  old 
Silas'  reputation  were  not  safe  while  the  "carpet 
bagger"  cumbered  the  floor  of  the  Senate!  After 
two  weeks'  careful  intrigue  at  Washington,  aided  with 
the  persuasion  of  the  Senator's  anxious  wife,  the  change 
was  effected.  Several  little  dinners,  with  stances  in  the 


438  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

Turkish  smoking-room,  made  the  three  veterans  of 
intrigue  admire  the  wisdom  and  persistency  of  Milly 
Steele.  She  foresaw  the  inevitable  downfall  of  the 
carpet-bag  government. 

"  I  would  sooner,  gentlemen,  see  my  husband  peace- 
fully translated  to  our  foreign  diplomatic  service  than 
go  down  to  ruin  with  the  wreck  of  his  party-faction 
in  the  South,  but  he  seems  so  fond  of  public  life." 

"I  think  that  I  can  influence  him,"  said  Nordenskiold. 
"  Mr.  Leavenworth's  son-in-law,  Colonel  Thomas 
Bayard,  is  coming  North  with  his  bride  to  pass  a  few 
weeks  at  Saratoga,  and  he  can  see  our  friend  Mr. 
Chisholm  at  New  Orleans.  Now  I  know  Chisholm 
can  do  much  with  Senator  Steele.  I'll  ask  Colonel 
Bayard  to  come  here  and  bring  a  private  letter  from 
Chisholm  setting  up  certain  matters  of  which  you 
naturally  know  little!" 

The  lawyer  ceased  as  he  noticed  a  ghastly  paleness 
grow  on  Milly  Steele's  face.  "  I  beg  pardon.  You  are 
agitated ! " 

When  the  three  gentlemen  left,  Milly  Steele  stood 
alone  before  her  glass,  a  quivering,  cowering  woman. 

"Colonel  Thomas  Bayard  coming!  My  God!  Steele 
must  go  abroad!  Bayard  knew  me  as  Florence  Morti- 
mer!" 

The  sudden  thought  of  her  knowledge  of  the  iden- 
tity of  No.  4  flashed  over  her  mind.  That  personage 
still  had  influence,  even  in  retirement.  He  held  locked 
in  his  breast  secrets  which  were  of  moment  to  the 
country  and  party,  even  if  he  no  longer  administered  a 
high  trust. 

The  next  day  a  graceful,  deeply  veiled  woman  entered 
the  abiding-place  of  the  retired  statesman  who  had 
been  Steele's  shadowy  partner.  In  a  half-hour,  seek- 
ing her  coupe,  she  was  swiftly  driven  home  by  a 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


439 


roundabout  route.  Her  head  lay  helpless  on  the  cush- 
ions, but  she  whispered,  "Saved!  Saved!"  for  the  hid- 
den influence  needed  was  at  hand. 

A  brief  note  next  day  called  Olaf  Nordenskiold  to  her 
side: 


I  have  good  news  for  you.  The  Senator  was  sent  for  from 
the  White  House  to-day.  Following  the  advice  of  party  leaders 
whom  1  do  not  know,  he  has  decided  to  resign,  and  one  of  the 
South  American  republics  will  be  selected  for  his  entry  into  the 
diplomatic  service  as  Minister. 


"  Is  this  sure?  It  seems  too  good  to  be  true!"  said 
the  doubting  lawyer. 

Milly  Steele  turned  a  worn  and  wearied  face  toward 
him.  "I  had  much  to  do  to  reconcile  Mr.  Steele,  but 
his  resignation* was  forwarded  to  his  Governor  to-day, 
and  he  will  call  to-morrow  at  the  Department  of  State." 

"  This  is  glorious ! "  said  Nordenskiold.  "  The  Senator's 
interests  in  Texas  will  be  our  joint  care.  Mr.  Mark 
Manson  and  Silas  Leavenworth  will  both  recognize 
your  valuable  assistance  !  The  fact  is,  my  dear  madam, 
that  the  intrigues  of  this  dead  robber  Maxan — "he 
started  in  astonishment  as  Milly  Steele  strode  up  and 
down,  wringing  her  hands  and  crying: 

**I  know  !  I  know  enough  !  Too  much  !  Spare 
me  !  I  only  wish  to  go  quietly  abroad  ;  that  is,  I  am 
quite  reconciled,"  she  said  artfully,  as  she  noted  the 
lawyer's  wondering  look  of  amazement. 

"  Bring  your  friends  to-morrow  evening;  I  will  give 
them  the  news  so  you  will  know  just  how  to  handle 
my  husband.  So  Colonel  Bayard's  services  will  not  be 
needed,"  she  said  smilingly. 

"  True,  but  he  is  already  on  his  way ! "  said  the 
lawyer,  as  he  bowed  his  way  out. 


440  FOR    LIFE    AXD    LOVE. 

"  Maxan's  name  seemed  to  affect  her,"  mused  Nor- 
denskiold ,  as  he  sauntered  to  his  hotel.  "  It's  a  queer 
world!  I  wonder  if  they  ever  were  allied  in  heart!" 

While  he  speculated,  Milly  Steele,  with  trembling 
lips,  thanked  God  that  she  could  never  meet  Maxan 
again!  "Not  on  this  side  of  the  grave!"  said  the 
beautiful  woman,  as  she  drained  a  glass  of  cordial,  for 
she  knew  now  that  her  lover  had  fallen  by  the  hand  of  a 
man  she  could  have  madly  loved. 

The  momentous  interview  of  Senator  Stesle  at  the 
White  House  was  wrapped  in  diplomatic  secrecy.  His 
visit  to  the  State  Department  was  less  confidential. 
Received  by  a  suave  Assistant  Secretary  he  was  blandly 
informed  of  his  appointment  as  Minister  to  Peru. 

"  It  will  be  a  delightful  voyage,  a  charming  post  of 
duty,  important  natural  interests,  and  a  great  future  for 
you  diplomatically,  sir,  "  said  the  official. 

"  Ah!  I  should  like  to  see  the  Secretary  of  State 
personally  and  confer  upon  this  important  charge,"  said 
Steele,  thrusting  his  hand  in  the  bosom  of  his  Prince 
Albert.  He  was  already  a  budding  Metternich,  with 
strong  ambitions  to  be  recognized  later  as  a  Talleyrand ! 

"  Quite  unnecessary,  Senator,  quite  unnecessary ;  the 
Secretary  reposes  every  confidence  in  your  tried  states- 
manship. Your  instructions  will  be  sent  to  you  at 
once.  You  are  aware  that  you  have  six  month*  in 
which  to  proceed  to  your  post.  Your  drafts  will  be 
honored  for  your  salary  for  that  period  in  advance  as 
usual!" 

"  Ah!"  said  Steele;  "in  that  case  I  may  spend  a  few 
weeks  at  Saratoga.  Public  service  has  worn  greatly 
upon  me!" 

"  Certainly,  certainly,  sir,"  said  the  Assistant,  bowing 
him  out.  "Report  your  address,  sir ;  we  will  forward 
all  your  instructions." 


FOR    LIFE    AMD    LOVK.  441 

As  Ezra  Steele  drove  away,  the  official  smiled.  "The 
President  has  pastured  that  old  fool  abroad  to  get  rid  of 
him,  I  suppose.  Well,  we  will  only  hear  from  him 
quarterly,  that's  one  blessing  of  the  situation." 

The  newly-made  Minister,  whose  resignation  as 
senator  would  naturally  be  eagerly  accepted,  drove 
away  in  high  good-humor. 

"There  are  valuable  interests;  nitrate  beds,  islands 
of  fertilizers,  and  railroad  schemes.  I  should  make 
some  money  down  there."  He  smiled  and  dreamed  of 
s.  golden  future,  as  he  drove  home  and  announced  the 
news  to  his  wife.  "  We  will  pass  a  few  weeks  at  Sara- 
toga, and  then  close  our  affairs  here.  You  will  be 
charmed  with  Peru,  so  courtly  and  hospitable  are  the 
Dons,  our  Secretary  tells  me." 

Steele  was  already  satisfied,  as  he  had  his  eagle  eye 
fixed  on  the  "  nitrate  beds." 

"  If  they  are  there  when  I  arrive,  I  will  have  some 
local  interest  before  long.  I  will  find  the  way !  " 

So  the  Foreign  Service  was  reinforced  by  a  repre- 
sentative ripe  and  polished  statesman  "  going  abroad  to 
shed  lustre  on  his  country." 

Ezra  Steele  never  knew  how  he  was  bodily  moved 
away  into  strange  and  devious  paths,  to  protect  the 
wreck  of  the  secret  Rio  Grande  cabal,  by  Chisholm's 
frantic  appeals  to  the  mysterious  but  still  powerful 
No.  4.  The  mysterious  partner  was  a  fallen  star, 
sweeping  in  brightness  in  the  train  of  the  one  great 
national  luminary,  and,  in  his  sudden  extinction,  had 
cast  the  crafty,  narrow-minded  "  carpet-bag "  Senator 
out  to  wander  as  a  poor,  fading  asteroid,  his  little 
sparkle  quenched  in  the  darkness  of  South  American 
revolution  and  uncivilized  obscurity! 

A  month  later  Milly  Steele  walked  alone  by  the 
shores  of  Saratoga  Lake.  Her  face  was  as  wondrously 


442  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

fair  as  ever,  and  her  heart  was  happy  and  light.  For, 
in  going  forth  to  his  late  apprenticeship  in  the  great 
world  beyond  the  sea,  Silas  Leavenworth  had  arranged 
the  most  substantial  guarantees  of  income  for  the  now 
ambitious  Minister.  Steele  was  absent  at  Washington, 
as  he  was  closing  their  private  affairs,  the  Russian 
Legation  renting  the  superb  residence  for  a  period  of 
years. 

Mark  Manson,  in  parting,  had  frankly  told  her :  "  I 
am  under  an  obligation  to  you,  which  I  can  never  for- 
get !  You  have  been  earnest,  prudent,  active,  and  your 
husband  has  been  saved  complication  and  disaster  by 
your  powerful  influence  for  good  in  his  career  !  He 
will  at  least  have  a  name  and  position,  and  when  his 
confreres  of  the  '  carpet-bag '  order  are  forgotten,  this 
dignified  exile  will  shield  him.  Besides,  your  income 
is  assured  !  We  will  take  care  of  that.  I  have  a  warm 
admiration  of  your  efforts  to  get  a  solid  foothold  under 
you  in  life,  dnd  you  will  have  peace  at  least." 

"Peace  !  That  is  all  I  pray  for!  "  said  Miliy  Steele, 
grasping  the  old  financier's  hands.  There  were  few 
secrets  between  them  now  ! 

"  Think  of  me  kindly"  she  said,  "  if  you  do  not  see 
me  again  !  Think  of  me  at  my  best  ! " 

"  You  can  test  my  memory  of  your  bright  and 
friendly  assistance  by  calling  on  me  from  your  distant 
home  for  anything  in  your  interest,"  said  Mark  heartily, 
as  he  announced  his  departure  for  a  long  tour. 

"  Better  than  the  world  would  have  her  be — better 
than  many  another  of  Eve's  daughters  would  have  been 
in  her  place  !  I  pity,  I  admire,  and  I  wonder,"  mused 
the  old  man,  "  is  there  any  one  who  must  say  I  for- 
give?" 

It  was  of  all  these  things  that  Milly  Steele  thought 
on  the  eve  of  her  departure  from  Saratoga,  as  she 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 


443 


wandered  alone  by  the  lovely  lake.  She  had  walked 
down  to  its  shores,  leaving  her  carriage  at  some  dis- 
tance. 

"  I  am  only  too  glad  to  go!  "  she  murmured.  «  I  fear 
not  the  iuture;  I  only  wish  to  go  out  in  peace,  away 
from  the  haunting  memories  of  old  days.  It  is  strange," 
she  mused,  "that I  have  not  met  Colonel  Bayard  here! 
Would  he  remember  the  girl-wife  he  so  gallantly  aided 
in  her  sorrow  if  he  met  me?  Alice,  his  sweet  wife, 
knows  me  only  as  Milly  Smiley.  No!  Time  has 
brushed  me  away  from  Memory's  picture,  and  there  is 
no  one  now  to  speak  of  Florence  Mortimer!  Bayard 
did  not  come  here,  and  Robert  Kenyon  rests  in  an 
unknown  grave."  -> 

Alas,  for  the  shortness  of  human  vision!  Thomas 
Bayard  had  hidden  his  new  happiness  from  public  gaze 
at  the  romantic  Lake  House,  avoiding  the  already 
vulgar  crowds  of  the  "  Springs,"  for  it  was  in  the  days 
of  flaming  "petroleum"  and  rampant  "shoddy"  mill- 
ionaires. Milly  Steele  looked  out  on  the  exquisite 
shores  of  the  placid  lake  smiling  at  her  feet !  Not  a 
ripple  roughened  its  calm  beauty.  The  passionate 
woman  drank  in  the  charm  of  the  still  hour,  the  glassy, 
mirrored  waters  and  their  fringing  shores. 

"Peaceful,  calm,  yet  below  lie  yawning  depths, 
black  caverns,  jagged  rocks.  Yes !  like  the  false  life  of  the 
broken  butterflies  of  fashion — we  poor  smiling  women — 
looking  forward  with  no  thought  of  anything,  save  to 
smooth  the  pathway  under  our  feet.  To  look  back  over 
the  road  our  weary  feet  have  travelled  would  be 
horrible.  Beneath  our  calm  lies  often  the  dark  agony 
of  the  past  !  My  God!"  she  shrieked,  for,  pale, 
haggard,  unkempt,  with  a  strange  gleam  in  his  eyes, 
Robert  Kenyon  strode  out  from  the  shadows  and 
roughly  grasped  her  by  the  arms.  He  bitterly  hissed 


444  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

in  her  very  face:  tf Florence  Mortimer!  }\m  she- 
devil  I  What  have  you  done  with  my  life?  Where 
have  you  hidden  all  these  years?  " 

The  pallor  of  death  was  on  Milly  Steele's  face  as 
she  gasped:  "Back  from  the  dead.  Back  again!" 

"  Tell  me! "shouted  the  maniac.  "  I've  tracked  you 
here  from  your  splendid  home.  I've  watched  you  for 
weeks  till  I  could  meet  you  face  to  face.  Now!  By 
the  God  who  made  me,  we  will  die  together  I" 

He  dragged  her  toward  the  rocky  bank.  Despite 
his  attenuated  frame  and  homeless  wanderings,  he  had 
the  strength  of  frenzy.  Ramon  Maxan's  revenge  was 
at  last  to  be  glutted.  It  was  his  curse  hovering  over 
her!  Her  stormy  lifejpassed  before  her  as  she  strove 
in  the  energy  of  despair.  "  Robert,  have  mercy!"  she 
screamed.  "Help!  Help!"  The  woodland  echoes 
rung  as  the  demented  husband  of  her  youth  strove  with 
the  desperate  woman. 

In  a  moment  more  her  loosening  grasp  would  have 
finally  yielded.  Shrub  and  clinging  vine  gave  her  help, 
and  inch  by  inch  Milly  Steele  fought  for  her  life  as  the 
hot  breath  of  the  demented  wanderer  swept  her  cheek. 

With  a  last  superhuman  effort,  she  freed  herself  as 
he  stumbled  over  a  rocky  ledge,  in  his  mad  fury  falling 
backward.  She  ran  with  the  swiftness  of  a  deer,  and 
the  pursuing  madman's  grasp  was  almost  on  her 
shoulder,  as  a  breathless  man  leaped  between  them, 
crying  «  Hold !  " 

With  one  wild  shout,  "  Bayard!  "  the  poor  waif  of 
years  glared  at  the  woman  now  clinging  to  the  tall 
Texan,  and,  rushing  to  a  jutting  point,  threw  himself  into 
the  dark  water  under  the  shade  of  the  gloomy  pines! 
The  woman  glided  from  her  savior's  arms  and  fell 
senseless  on  the  turf.  Tom  Bayard,  darting  to  the  rock 
whence  the  maniac  had  sprung,  saw  only  a  few  widen, 


FOK    LIFE    AND 


445 


ing  circles  on  the  shadowed  black  waters.  There  was 
no  sound,  no  ripple,  and  the  dark  depths  of  the 
mountain  tarn  never  gave  up  the  body  of  the  worn 
and  wasted  soldier.  Kneeling  by  her  side  on  the  turf, 
Bayard  saw  the  eyes,  which  had  once  looked  on  his 
men  going  forth  to  battle  as  he  rode  at  their  head,  open 
in  amazement. 

"  Tou  here!  At  last!  Over  the  world  my  fate  has 
hounded  me  down!" 

"You  must  try  and  rise!  You  must  let  me  help  you 
away  from  this  place!  For  God's  sake,  let  me  bear 
you  to  a  place  of  safety ! " 

In  desperate  resolve,  the  half-fainting  woman  strug- 
gled on  Bayard's  arm  to  her  carriage! 

"  Your  mistress  has  fainted.  I  will  accompany  her 
home.  I  am  Colonel  Bayard,"  said  her  guardian,  as  he 
lifted  Milly  Steele  bodily  into  the  Victoria.  "  Drive 
rapidly!"  he  cried.  "Can  you  bear  up?"  he  whispered 
to  the  Senator's  wife.  "You  must.  It  is  your  life's  sal- 
vation! " 

An  hour  later  Colonel  Bayard  left  the  darkened 
room,  where  Milly  Steele  lay  safe  in  her  hotel,  with 
the  echoes  of  the  madman's  voice  still  ringing  in  her 
ears. 

" Tell  me  but  one  thing"  he  said,  when  the  grave- 
faced  physician  had  gone.  "  You  always  believed  him 
dead?" 

And  Milly  Steele  was  honest,  as  her  trembling  lips 
faltered :  "  Yes,  I  never  heard  but  of  his  death.  He 
made  no  sign  in  all  these  years! " 

"  Then  your  secret  sleeps  in  the  lake.  If  there  shall 
be  any  inquiry,  let  me  bear  the  burden.  I  can  say  an 
insane,  man  attacked  you,  and  in  sudden  frenzy  threw 
himself  in  the  lake.  I  will  come  to  you — alone!  It  is 
well  that  you  should  not  meet  my  wife," 


446  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

An  opportune  telegram  of  the  Minister,  now  anxious 
to  personally  verify  the  glories  of  his  new  position, 
enabled  Bayard  to  quietly  escort  Milly  Steele  from  the 
scene  of  her  last  life  crisis.  In  silence,  with  grave  kind- 
ness, Colonel  Bayard  said :  "  Go  forth  and  look  forward 
to  a  new  life  beyond  the  Andes,  for  my  lips  are  sealed." 
The  graceful  woman  pressed  his  hands,  and  as  her  tears 
fell  on  them,  whispered :  "  May  God  be  with  you  and 
yours  always ! " 

There  was  no  public  comment  as  the  ex-senator 
passed  out  on  the  ocean  to  his  new  post.  He  was  a  very 
dim  asteroid  now  in  the  national  firmament!  He  only 
marvelled  at  the  shadows  on  his  fair  wife's  brows,  who 
gazed  steadily  forward  to  the  new  world  of  her  future, 
her  chastened  heart  imploring  "  Peace." 

"  I  learn  that  Mrs.  Steele  has  been  at  the  Springs  and 
sailed  for  South  America,"  said  happy  Alice  a  few  days 
later  to  her  husband.  "  I  am  glad  I  did  not  meet  her 
here,  for,  beautiful  as  she  was,  I  alwavs  feared  she 
had  a  secret  in  her  life." 

"  Be  gentle  in  your  judgments,  Alice,  my  darling," 
said  the  tall  Texan,  raising  his  eyes,  which  had  been 
anxiously  sweeping  the  broad  lake.  "  Whatever  her 
secret  was,  it  is  hidden  forever  now  !  Let  us  not 
speak  of  her  again." 

When  the  happy  circle  was  finally  reunited  at  San 
Miguel,  Thomas  Bayard  told  Jack  Manson  of  the 
strange  happening  at  the  lakeside. 

"  I  know  not  if  it  was  really  Maxan's  plan  to  set 
the  demented  husband  on  her  trail  to  effect  her 
murder  in  revenge,"  Jack  answered.  "  Mejia's  indefat- 
igable adjutant  traced  both  Kenyon  and  Maxan  to  the 
same  camp.  But  it  is  a  wonderful  story.  Let  us 
drop  the  dark  memories  of  that  fiend  and  his  futile 
plans.  It  is  strange ! "  said  brave  Jack  Manson,  look- 


FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE.  447 

ing  at  his  beloved  Katie,  whose  fair  face  was  lit  with 
happiness  as  she  saw  the  heart-brothers  returning  from 
their  walk.  "It  seems  providential  that,  in  the  end, 
where  Hate  and  Love  struggle  to  the  death,  Love 
wins!  Love  is  unsuspecting,  hate  is  crafty  and  plot- 
ting, yet  in  all  Ramon  Maxan's  devilishly  cultured 
schemes,  each  careful  snare  laid  for  others  failed  at 
last!" 

"  Do  you  know  it  is  stranger  than  even  you  say, 
Jack,  in  this  very  case?  Nordenskiold  is  now  dividing 
up  some  lands.  I  asked  him  what  he  was  doing  so 
for!  'I  owned  them  half  in  half  with  poor  Bob 
Kenyon,'  he  said,  'and  I  have  set  my  share  aside  for 
Panchita,  who  will  be  married  next  month  to  Colonel 
Mejia.  The  other  interest  should  be  Bob  Kenyon's 
widow's.  He  left  a  will  which  was  proved  here,  for 
he  had  sent  it  on  from  Atlanta,  where  he  married  a 
lady  named  Mortimer.'  When  I  told  him  -who  she 
•was  now,  the  old  man  said,  '  Well,  the  lady  will  have 
a  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  pin-money ! '  " 

"  I  always  thought  Captain  Buller  might  marry 
Panchita!"  said  Jack,  musing  on  what  he  had  heard. 

"  Buller's  marriage  is  gazetted,  sir,  as  well  as  his  staff 
majority.  He  has  captured  a  senator's  daughter,  and 
has  got  an  extra  grade  with  military  promptness  !  " 

."Come  here,  you  wanderers!"  cried  Mrs.  Katie. 
"  We  are  all  going  to  drive  over  to  your  Nueces  ranch 
to-morrow,  as  Alice  is  at  last  going  over  to  take  pos- 
session! Father  will  bring  mother  home  soon,  and  we 
have  decided  that  three  brides  are  too  many  for  San 
Miguel!" 

"  Then  we  must  build  a  Nueces  branch  of  the  rail- 
road soon,"  cried  Colonel  Bayard ;  "  the  travel  will  be 
immense!"  a  proposition  heartily  joined  in  by  Jimmy 
Leavenworth  and  fair  Gertrude,  dashing  up  on  their 
return  from  a  ride. 


448  FOR    LIFE    AND    LOVE. 

"Do  you  like  building  railroads  in  Texas,  Jack?"  said 
Katie  Manson,  with  a  flash  of  her  old  spirit. 

"I  have  found  a  new  life  and  a  true  love  under  the 
Southern  Cross ! "  said  Jack,  as  he  stooped  and  kissed 
her  rosy  lips. 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

Return  this  material  to  the  library 

from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


JAN  15 19  30 


A     000024075     4 


